Harare’s water woes persist 

Source: Harare’s water woes persist | The Herald

Kudzaishe Muhamba-Herald Reporter

Acute water shortages have persisted in some parts of Harare since last week when the local authority shut down its main water treatment plant at Morton Jaffray Water Works for routine maintenance.

While some suburbs including Highfield and Kambuzuma had started receiving water, areas including Ashdown Park, Eastlea, Upper Hillside, Braeside and a section of Warren Park were still dry.

A Tynwald resident, Mrs Elizabeth Chakonya said they were yet to receive water.

“We were expecting to receive tap water after the three days’ maintenance the council said they were doing, but up to now we still have nothing.

“It is becoming a cause of concern since others are now resorting to using unsafe water sources,” she said.

A Warren Park resident, Mrs Rose Mucheke, said they were expecting an improvement  after the rehabilitation of water pumps.

“We had pipe bursts in our area so we have not had tap water for the past five days.

“What worries us is that in the areas that had no water problems their water is already coming out of their taps and on our side there is no sign of water,” she said.

A Braeside resident, Mr Thomas Jack,  said it was disheartening that even after the promised three days by council they are yet to receive the precious liquid.

“We are still patiently waiting, maybe by the end of this day we will see something.”

In a statement yesterday, the local authority however, apologised for the late resumption of water supplies to households.

“We faced unprecedented challenges at Warren Control which made it difficult to resume pumping last night. We expect to start pumping late today,” reads the statement.

During the rehabilitation of Warren Control pump station, the council assured residents that it would increase the number of pumps installed at  the station.

The control will directly supply most of the water to the western and south-western suburbs where the majority of Harare residents live.