The Sunday Mail
Debra Matabvu
HARARE City Council has scrapped US$8.5 million in fixed water charges in nine suburbs faced with erratic supplies.
The local authority resolved to do away with the fixed water charges in April and this will see each household in the high density residential areas having at least US$130 scrapped off its account. Those in the low density areas will each have US$400 deducted.
Water fixed charges in high density areas are pegged at US$4 while the low density and commercial sector US$9 and US$50, respectively. The affected suburbs include Mt Pleasant Heights, Msasa Park, Mabvuku, Tafara, Greendale, Mandara, Glenlorne, Mandara, Kambanji and Greystone Park.
The council resolution states that the write off will cover the period between 2009 and 2013. Harare city acting corporate communications manager, Mr Michael Chideme said, “We have scrapped US$ 8.5 million of fixed water charges, with the resolution being implemented in retrospect.” Environmental Management Committee chair councillor Herbert Gomba said council was planning to extend the period from 2013 to date.
Harare Mayor Cllr Bernard Manyenyeni noted that the local authority was set to increase water production, a development which will see all suburbs getting water at least three days a week. “Charges which were scrapped are historical not for new or future billing. We are going to have over 500 mega liters water production going forward consistently; We are targeting at least 580 mega litres by August,” he said.
Harare has long been battling water problems. In 2014, council begun rehabilitating its major water supply stations after securing a US$144 million loan from the China Exim Bank. However, only half of the loan has been disbursed so far with indications the reminder of the loan might not be released soon. This has prompted council to postpone the completion of water works rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation of Morton Jaffery was supposed to be complete by June 2016 but dates were changed to December 2017 due to lack of funds.
