Cabinet has directed Finance Minister, Tendai Biti and Water Resources, Development and Management minister Samuel Sipepa-Nkomo to urgently address the water crisis in Harare that has gone out of hand.
“Cabinet has directed me and (Minister) Biti to work on this urgently. Harare water is a problem and I realise many challenges have arisen resulting in most areas going without water. I made a presentation to Cabinet on the situation because I was asked to explain. The onus of providing water is that of Harare City and my constitutional duty is to make sure that happens. My other duty is to ensure we intervene as government if the local authority is failing,” said Sipepa-Nkomo.
The minister explained his short-term plan: “I need $50 million to address the issue of disposal of sludge at Morton Jaffray to improve production by 40 megalitres, to rehabilitate remaining clarifiers to improve to 57 megalitres a day and to provide mobility so that city council staff attends to bursts,” said Sipepa-Nkomo.
He said money was needed to construct a power line dedicated to Prince Edward water works and another dedicated line to Warren Control pump station and to buy new cars for the council’s department of water.
The water situation in Harare has become critical. Residents go for months without water resulting in people resorting to unprotected water sources. City fathers last week admitted failure to address the water crisis.
