Published: 11 hours ago

Service delivery in Harare has plunged to alarming levels, with residents citing erratic water supplies, collapsing roads, irregular refuse collection and unreliable electricity as part of a worsening urban crisis.

According to a new report by the Harare Residents Trust (HRT), households are receiving municipal water only twice a week on average - and even then, the water is often contaminated.

"The water has impurities when it is available. When it is left in containers, it turns greenish or brownish, which reduces confidence among residents to drink it," the report said. "Residents also observe that the water dries their skin, likely due to the treatment chemicals used."

Some suburbs reportedly went for up to two weeks without running water, forcing desperate communities to form co-operatives to drill boreholes. However, residents said many had fallen victim to dishonest drilling companies that exaggerate borehole depths or claim to have found water without proper exploration. Several boreholes in Glen Norah, Southlea Park, Nehanda and Budiriro are reportedly drying up.

The report also painted a grim picture of Harare's road network, particularly in high-density suburbs where pothole-ridden streets have become the norm. Residents in Mbare said dust raised by passing vehicles was forcing them to keep windows and doors closed at all times, while fears of dust-related diseases are growing.

Roads flagged as being in dire condition include Willowvale Road, First Street off Boshoff Drive in Ardbernie stretching to Waterfalls Police Station, Boshoff Drive linking Simon Mazorodze and Seke Road, and the Dzivarasekwa Extension road connecting to Solomon Mujuru Road.

Refuse collection under Geo Pomona Waste Management remains erratic, according to the HRT, with illegal dumpsites mushrooming across many suburbs.

Electricity supply has also become increasingly unreliable, with many households turning to gas and solar as alternatives. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has announced plans to charge US$25 for compliance inspections, arguing that poor household connections are contributing to frequent fire outbreaks.

"The electricity supply situation has remained subdued in many suburbs. Consumers continue to spend more on gas and solar lighting, given the increasing unreliability of ZETDC to provide adequate power," the report noted.

The cumulative effect of these service delivery failures has left residents frustrated, with many questioning whether the city council and its partners are capable of addressing Harare's mounting urban challenges.
- online

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