By Sukoluhle Ndlovu
The growing number of boreholes in urban areas has laid bare the water crisis gripping local authorities, as residents increasingly turn to alternative sources following persistent shortages of municipal water.
Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) vice-chairperson Sylvia Janet Utete-Masango said the widespread reliance on boreholes was a sign that councils were failing to provide adequate water supplies to residents.
Speaking to journalists during a tour of Helcraw Water infrastructure projects in Harare, Utete-Masango challenged local authorities to find lasting solutions to the water shortages.
“The proliferation of boreholes in urban areas is a result of water shortages from the local authorities. Therefore, there is a need for councils to find sustainable solutions for water challenges faced by many residents,” she said.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the council was banking on public-private partnerships to improve water supplies and address the city’s service delivery challenges.
“Harare City Council is embracing public-private partnerships as they are providing sustainable solutions to the water crisis,” Mafume said.
The council is also exploring partnerships in other sectors, including energy, housing, roads and street lighting, to improve service delivery.
Helcraw Water chairperson Farai Jere said the tour provided an opportunity to assess progress on infrastructure projects and identify ways of strengthening them.
“This visit is allowing us a chance to see for ourselves the works being done on the ground and ultimately come up with different ways of strengthening our projects,” Jere said.
Many urban households have resorted to drilling boreholes as local authorities struggle to maintain consistent water supplies, raising questions over the sustainability of relying on groundwater to meet growing demand.
