The World Bank has dispatched a technical team to work on the rehabilitation programme for the Harare City Council sewerage reticulation system in Zimbabwe
Council Acting Town Clerk, Dr Prosper Chonzi, said the programme is expected to be completed in 2014. He added that more funding is expected for the programme from the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) in 2012.
In 2006, following a Zimbabwe government directive, the Department of Harare Water was transferred to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA). In 2009, the government then directed that all water management functions, which were being carried out by ZINWA, be transferred back to the local authorities.
Whilst the sewage treatment plants were under ZINWA management, it is reported that no rehabilitation programme was carried out, leading to complete breakdown of the sewage treatment plants. The MDTF is expected to support the rehabilitation programme with approximately US$4.5mn. The council expects to have rectified any problems in its sewage reticulation system by 2014.
Some of the problems which have been faced by council due to the breakdown in the sewage system include disposal of raw sewage into water bodies posing health threats to residents.
Wallace Mawire
