The City of Harare has suspended water pumping to several western suburbs following the theft and vandalism of critical water infrastructure.
On Wednesday, the local authority confirmed that thieves had stolen straps securing major pipes between Morton Jaffray Waterworks and the Marimba reservoirs, causing treated water to leak out.
As a result, the water supply to Mufakose, Glenview, and Budiriro has been halted until the necessary repairs are completed. The council said:
<blockquote>
Heartless thieves stole straps holding our major pipes from Morton Jaffray Waterworks to Marimba reservoirs. As a result, we have stopped pumping water to Mufakose, Glenview and Budiriro until the pipe is repaired.
We will be giving residents regular updates on the situation. Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.
</blockquote>
The council’s decision to halt the water supply will leave residents in the affected high-density suburbs without access to clean water, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid.
With limited access to safe water, residents may turn to unsafe sources such as rivers and wells, further increasing the potential for illness.
Schools in these areas may face challenges in maintaining proper hygiene standards, which could lead to closures or reduced attendance.

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Thieves in Harare stole important pipes that carry water to Mufakose, Glenview, and Budiriro. The city had to stop sending water to these areas until the pipes are fixed. People in these neighborhoods might get sick from drinking dirty water. Schools could have a hard time staying clean, and some might have to close. The council is sorry for the inconvenience and will give updates as they fix the pipes.

Thieves Strike Harare Water Pipes Leaving Mufakose, Glenview, And Budiriro Dry

The City of Harare will shut down Morton Jaffray and Warren Control Waterworks on Thursday and Friday this week for routine maintenance, leading to interruptions in water supply in some parts of the city.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 5, Harare Acting Town Clerk Phakamile Mabhena Moyo said the shutdown will facilitate scouring and necessary repairs of the main line at various chambers from Morton Jaffray, as well as the interconnector from Warren to Alex. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
Please be advised that there will be a shutdown of both Morton Jaffray and Warren Control Waterworks from 1200hrs on Thursday 7 November 2024 to 1800hrs on Friday 08 November 2024.
This will allow for scouring and subsequent repairs of the main line at various chambers from Morton Jaffray as well as the Warren to Alex interconnector.
During this time all suburbs will be affected except for parts of the Western high density suburbs (Glen View, Budiriro, parts of Kuwadzana, Mufakose etc).
We therefore encourage consumers to use water sparingly during this time and would like to offer our sincere apologies for any inconveniences that may arise.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The city of Harare is shutting down waterworks for maintenance on Thursday and Friday. This will interrupt water supply in some parts of the city. The main line at Morton Jaffray and the interconnector at Warren will be repaired. The shutdown will begin on Thursday at 1200hrs and end on Friday at 1800hrs. All suburbs except some parts of the Western high density suburbs will be affected. People are advised to use water sparingly during this time. apologies for any inconvenience.

Harare Shuts Down Morton Jaffray And Warren Waterworks For Routine Maintenance

The Harare City Council (HCC) has allocated US$216 million from its 2024 budget to address water challenges and improve service provision in the water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) sector. The capital city of Zimbabwe has been facing severe water shortages for many years, with some wards and districts going without stable and safe drinking water for extended periods.
In his New Year message, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume announced that the allocated funds will be used for key projects aimed at bridging the water supply gaps. One of the major projects includes the rehabilitation of water treatment plants and the distribution network. This will involve refurbishment at Morton Jaffray, including the rehabilitation of 14 filters and the replacement of 3 pumps, to improve water production and pumping capacity. Once complete, this is expected to increase water production from the current average of 280 litres per day to 450 megaliters per day.
Mafume said the local government authority also plans to implement interventions in the distribution network, such as pipe replacement and the installation of 2000 commercial and 40,000 domestic prepaid water meters. He said:
<blockquote>
This will result in reduction of non-revenue water by 2% from 60% to 58%. These metering interventions are expected to improve revenue collection efficiency to 60% from the current 40% attributed to the targeted consumers. Protect the vulnerable groups of the society.
We are hopeful that in 2024 we will reach 450 megalitres of water production per day. Although this is not adequate to supply the citizens of Harare, it will at least improve on the coverage aspect which has remained limited.
</blockquote>
Harare has been grappling with water shortages for over a decade due to financial, operational, and management challenges faced by the local authority. 
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Harare City Council Has Allocated US$216 million From Its 2024 Budget To Address Water Challenges

Harare Mayor, Cllr Lovejoy Chitengu assured residents that the tap water in the city is safe to drink, adding that it has been passed fit for consumption by experts.
Chitengu made the remarks after touring Morton Jaffray waterworks on Saturday where he “demonstrated” that tap water is indeed safe by drinking from a tap nearby. He said:
<blockquote>
Our water is clean as you can see, there is nothing wrong with it. So, we are encouraging residents to drink water from the taps because it is clean and has been approved by experts as fit for consumption.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, the Government has said Harare’s water supply has improved significantly over the last few weeks.
This follows interventions by a technical committee set up by the Government last month to address the severe supply challenges facing the capital.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/harare-water-supplies-improve">The Sunday Mail</a>, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development chief director (water resources and irrigation development) Tinayeshe Mutazu said:
<blockquote>
The government took steps to intervene very quickly to avert total disaster, primarily a cholera outbreak, which was knocking on the city’s doors.
Treasury has provided financial resources to the tune of US$1.2 million. The City of Harare will draw down directly from Treasury.
Treasury is providing that funding through direct payments to service providers.
</blockquote>
He said the Government has since disbursed about US$1.2 million for the procurement of water treatment chemicals which is being paid directly to suppliers. Said Mutazu:
<blockquote>
The team has made progress, the first achievement being that they have managed to arrest the deterioration of water supply.
Supply was almost coming down to zero, to a point where the city could not provide any water.
This was not because there was no water in the dams, but because they could not pump untreated water into the city.

So, we moved from a point where daily supply was hovering around 150 mega litres to the current 350 mega litres.
But the desire is to get to above 520 mega litres per day, which is the current installed capacity.
</blockquote>
Harare’s water crisis has been worsened by frequent power outages at Morton Jaffray waterworks.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Harare Mayor Urges Residents To Drink Tap Water

A power outage at Morton Jaffray waterworks on Monday afternoon affected the pumping of water to Harare residents at a time when Zimbabwe’s capital is battling a cholera outbreak.
In a statement released on Monday night, the City of Harare’s spokesperson Stanley Gama also revealed that Morton Jaffray’s alternative and dedicated Norton feeder line, which was lost over a month ago, is yet to be restored. Read the statement:
<blockquote>
Morton Jaffray experienced a power failure at 1430hrs today and as of 2130hrs, electricity was yet to be restored.
This has affected the pumping of water to residents. ZESA technicians have indicated that there might be a problem with the Parkridge Sub Station feeder and are working to restore the power.
Morton Jaffray’s alternative and dedicated Norton feeder line was lost on 17 October because of the storm that hit most parts of the country. ZESA is still to restore the dedicated line.
As a result of the power failure at Morton Jaffray, most of the city has no water. Morton Jaffray will resume pumping water to the city as soon as power is restored. In the meantime, we urge residents to use water sparingly.
</blockquote>
Last week, Harare deputy mayor Kudzai Kadzombe said that Harare needs 1200 mega litres for residents to get water daily but has a production capacity of 600ML.
Most of the time, the city produces 300ML which it shares with Ruwa, Norton, Epworth and Chitungwiza.
The City of Harare obtains its water supply from four dams; Lake Chivero, Lake Manyame, Harava Dam and Prince Edward Dam (which are also in the Manyame Catchment area and downstream of the City of Harare).
It is expected that when Kunzvi Dam located in Mashonaland East Province, is completed, Harare will get a cleaner water source and reduce the water treatment costs.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/11/18/president-mnangagwa-reverses-the-appointment-of-general-valerio-sibanda-to-zanu-pf-politburo/">Pindula News</a>

Harare's Water Crisis Worsens As Power Outage Hits Morton Jaffray Waterworks

Harare City Council has notified residents that it had run out of water treatment chemicals and as a result, it is likely to shut one of the major treatment plants. Already, the city has water problems and shutting Morton Jaffray would exacerbate the already dire situation.
The situation is however not unique to Harare as almost all subnational governments nationwide have been having water challenges. Some attribute the deficit to dwindling water levels in water sources.
Not so long ago, Harare City Council revealed that the scarcity of foreign currency was worsening the water crisis.
The city fathers said that the central bank, the Reserve Bank Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ), was not disbursing foreign currency enough for the Local Authority to fund its operations.
Posting on Facebook, the Local Government Authority said:
<blockquote>DEAR RESIDENTS 
Harare City Council has run out of key water treatment chemicals and is at the moment stretching the little available amounts to treat limited supplies of water. If no urgent bailout is given between today and Tuesday, management will be forced to shut down Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant.
Council is buying foreign currency on the runaway interbank exchange market against a stagnant and inflexible budget.</blockquote>

FULL TEXT: Harare Runs Out Of Water Treatment Chemicals, To Shut Major Waterworks

Harare Water director Engineer Hosiah Chisango said that they are shutting down Warren Control Pump Station which will affect the city cen­tre, north­ern, east­ern and some western suburbs like Mufakose. The shutdown is meant to allow council to repair leaks on the main water pipeline from Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant to Warren Control Pump Station.
Said Chisango:
<blockquote>The pipeline that burst is the main one from Morton Jaffray to Warren Control. There were five bursts along this pipeline and we have repaired four. This last one requires the pipeline to be emptied. On Saturday (tomorrow) we are going to shut down water and we will resume pumping at the end of the same day. Two or three days later, water supply will be restored in other areas that are further east. We would take care of eastern suburbs, including Mabvuku and Tafara, because of their schedule of water supply. They normally get water on Saturdays, so there would be a delay and they will get it on Sunday, then we will extend it to the following Wednesday.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/dry-weekend-for-harare-suburbs/">Herald</a>

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