Zimbabwe, Harare: City gets US$ 17 million for water and sanitation, aid agencies fear more cholera

Government has given more than US$17 million to the Harare City Council  to upgrade water and sewerage infrastructure. An extra US$ 2.4 million would soon become available to construct a dedicated power line for the Morton Jaffray water treatment plant.

Will this be enough to prevent a new cholera outbreak when the summer rainy season begins in September, as aid agencies fear?  It  was a step in the right direction said Water development minister Sam Sipepa Nkomo, but he suggested that at least US$21 million was needed to completely overhaul the Harare water and sewerage network. Harare was the epicentre of  Africa’s worst cholera outbreak in 15 years, which started in August 2008 and killed 4,000 people.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti whose ministry gave the funds, said the aim as to restore water to Harare and in particular the University of Zimbabwe. Biti stressed that it had been difficult to get the funds as government could spend very little for capital expenditure because 70 per cent of its expenditure goes towards allowances and salaries.

Minister Biti said the funds should be specifically used to rehabilitate the Morton Jaffray treatment plant, repair of the water distribution network, installation of pumps at Lomagundi and Alex Park stations, upgrading of the sewer network in Highfield, Glen Norah, Budiriro, Kambuzuma, Dzivarasekwa and Kuwadzana. Crowborough and Firle sewage treatment plants would also be covered with the funds.

The Government expected an increase of water production by 100 megalitres per day, reduction of water losses by 50 megalitres per day and a reduction of sewer blockages in high density areas by half.

Town clerk, Dr Tendai Mahachi had promised an ambitious 90-day period to fully restore the city’s water and sewer services using the funds.

The Government had more positive news: water supply has been restored to the nearby town of Ruwa after nearly two years and local company Tenduros Investments, has invested US$1 million in a water treatment chemicals plant in Harare.

Meanhile aid agencies are gearing up for the eventuality of another serious cholera outbreak by drilling 200 new boreholes in cholera hotspots, distributing hygiene kits, and sensitization and education efforts to better equip Zimbabweans to cope.

Source: The Herald, 04 Jul, 30 Jun and 23 Jun 2009 ; IRIN, 08 Jul 2009