Zimpapers Logo

Zvifadzo Lubombo Herald Reporter
Residents have urged Harare City Council to effectively use the US$75 million grant from India to revamp the city’s ageing water and sewer reticulation system. Scores of people told The Herald that council needed to implement the deal as a matter of urgency to address the water and sewage problems facing the residents.
They also hailed the deal that was facilitated by Vice President Joice Mujuru.

Under the deal, the Indian government gave Harare City Council US$75 million, half loan and half grant, to replace water mains and minimise leaks which account for up to 60 percent of treated water.

“We thank the authorities that facilitated the deal and it is our greatest hope and wish that the money be put to its intended use,” said Mr Washington Galamala of Highfield.

“We urge the council to use the money in a prudent manner to help end the water and sewage problems we are facing. We are also hoping that comprehensive studies have been made with regards to the maximum use of locally manufactured pipes and equipment so as to avoid overreliance on imports for essential services.”

Said Mrs Mary Takaendesa: “I hope this money will be put to good use. Checks and balances are required to ensure transparency.
“City fathers should realise that we have for too long without sufficient water and sewage services. So we are saying every bit helps and diversion of even very little would be detrimental to the net effort.”

Harare Residents Trust director Precious Shumba welcomed the Indo-Zim deal saying it demonstrated the council’s commitment to ending the water and sewage problems.

“We welcome the new development which we pray will improve on the accessibility of and quality of water,” he said.
“Clear timeframes should, however, be set as to when the project will be completed. The tragedy that has previously fallen the council`s projects is that while funding through loan and grant facilities has been secured, there has been lack of implementation strategies.”
The city had challenges of frequent pump breakdowns and was incurring water losses of about 60 percent attributable to the aged distribution network which is over 50 years old.