By Correspondent
Constantly bursting water pipes, weathered by age, are losing Harare water worth over US$1m per month according to Local Government Permanent Secretary John Bhasera.
Bhasera, who was appearing before a Local Government Portfolio Committee, said Harare has losses ranging between 55% and 60%.
With a chemical bill of US$2m per month to produce 300 mega litres, the capital is running massive losses.
“I was checking with Harare and their non-revenue water must be over 55% to 60%.
“Their target is to reduce non-revenue water from the current 60% maybe down to 50% as a short term.
“We are looking at possibilities of resolving these challenges, more sustainably and more in the long term.
Bhasera’s figures are however higher with Mayor Jacob Mafume understating the losses to be 20% according to state media.
Still, according to Mafume, the losses for Harare range around US$400 000 per month.
The condition of water in Lake Chivero, which is the waste management system for Harare, makes Harare water expensive to produce.
Currently it requires nine imported chemicals to purify the water.
Even after treatment, Harare water has been found to fall short of World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
The standards stipulate that water must be odourless and colourless.
Bulawayo City Council decommissioned Khami Dam when its toxicity levels reached similar levels to Chivero.
Kunzvi and Privatisation
However, Bhasera says the construction of Kunzvi Dam and privatisation are the long terms solutions.
“We are projecting that Kunzvi Dam will be able to contribute maybe more than 200 to 250 mega litres into the Harare water grid.
“Government is privatising and we are working with Local Authorities in terms of privatising some of the service deliverables,,” he said.
“We are actually having some high level discussions in terms of privatising water delivery for Harare and other cities, locations and jurisdictions.
“We are learning some models from South Africa, Tanzania and other cities where we are benching ourselves.
Bhasera added that government will respect the relevant human and constitutional rights relating to access to water.
