City suspends water rationing

HARARE has suspended its water rationing schedule in all high density residential areas as it steps up efforts to contain a typhoid outbreak.

The local authority introduced water rationing last year citing low dam levels, a move that saw some suburbs going for more than five days without water.

However, the local authority says it has suspended the schedule following an increase in dam levels and as part of efforts to combat a typhoid outbreak that recently hit the city.

Harare water acting director, Engineer Hosiah Chisango said the schedule would be suspended in high residential areas only as they are the most vulnerable.

“We have taken a lot of measures to combat the outbreak and one of them is to suspend water rationing in all high density suburbs,” he said.

“All high density suburbs will now receive water every day of the week.

“Water levels in dams have also increased due to the rains, which is also an advantage.”

Harare introduced a tight water rationing schedule in October last year, which saw some suburbs receiving water two times a week.

The exercise severely affected the northern suburbs such as Mablereign, Marlborough, Mt Pleasant and Hatcliffe, which were only receiving water two days a week.

Western suburbs such as Mabvuku and Tafara were receiving water three days a week, while Eastern suburbs such as Glen Norah, Glen View, Budiriro, Warren Park were receiving water during the week with supplies cut on weekends.

Harare also reduced water supplies to Chitungwiza, which is now receiving 15 mega litres a day from 27 mega litres a day.

Rural and urban planning expert, Mr Nyasha Mutsindikwa said there is need for the local authority to construct additional water infrastructure to cater for the growing population.

“There is need to increase the number of water bodies providing water to the city because currently, the existing water infrastructure does not match with the increasing population,” he