Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
THE Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water yesterday visited Morton Jaffray water treatment plant to ascertain progress on restoration works aimed at addressing the water supply challenges in the capital.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka and Local Government and Public Works Minister Winston Chitando led the tour.
Speaking after the tour, Minister Masuka said efforts should be scaled up to ensure that 520 mega litres per day were achieved by December 31.
“President Mnangagwa directed that we put a technical committee to assist the City of Harare to provide enough water and this is to provide 520ML/day,” he said.
“The technical committee was put in place and why we visited today is to appreciate the work the committee has done. There is an elaborate plan to restore the City of Harare. We assisted the committee to prioritise and we think the target that has been given to restore the 520ML a day by December 31 is indeed achievable.’’
Harare Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango said about US$12 million was needed for maintaining plant infrastructure to ensure that the 520ML is attained by December 31 this year.
He added that for the chemicals the consumption is about US$1,6 million per month.
“The planning has been done, the engagements are also being done to ensure that we have adequate supply of chemicals. We should also see an improvement in the supply of chemicals .
“It takes bit of time to get to our target because we are looking at infrastructure as well, but as soon as we have an improvement in chemical supplies, there can be an improvement in the output.”
“We still have to work on those filters and clarifiers to be able to get to 520ML/day,’’ he said.
Eng Chisango said debtors were now owing over $589 billion adding that those who were failing to pay would be blacklisted was affecting the operations of the plant.
“We have put measures in place to ensure that we collect what we are owed. We are improving on our debt collection. We are going to blacklist some of the debtors,’’ he said.
The water technical committee chair team Professor Hodson Makurira of the University of Zimbabwe said there was need for more chemicals and attention towards the plant.
“The clarifiers and the plant need attention. Once we get the water treatment to appreciable volumes and quantities, we will then have water pumped to communities in greater Harare.
“All those stages need attention and the priority is to get water out of here to acceptable levels. Government promised to send some support and we are trying to get more chemicals,’’ he said.
Government has appointed a technical team to assist the City of Harare to resolve water challenges.
The move will help to improve hygiene and minimise the risk of spreading water borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
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