Suburban
Government has hinted at moving in to regulate the sinking of boreholes in residential areas to abstract water for selling by bulk water suppliers in Harare, a top official revealed recently.
Diana Nherera
Suburban Reporter
Harare Provincial Development Coordinator Mr Tafadzwa Muguti said all bulk water selling companies should be licensed adding that those operating without permission will have their carting vehicles impounded.
Mr Muguti condemned illegal water distribution companies that have sunk boreholes in residential areas and described them as causing chaos as they take water from one community to other areas leaving residents in those communities where the boreholes are sunk unable to draw water from their own boreholes.
“This habit should stop. Whilst we appreciate that we have a water crisis in Harare Province, every solution should be collective and within the law,” he said.
Speaking a workshop held towards the end of last year in Harare to discuss the protection of wetlands and public streams, Mr Muguti said the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) should ensure that trucks that ferry water are licensed with traceable permits and sources of where they abstract the water.
“I have since asked the (water authority) to put in on programme so that you will see in the next coming weeks trucks which are carrying water illegally without permits being impounded by the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” he said.
In September last year, a Harare pre-budget consultative meeting heard that there was need to control borehole drilling in the capital city’s residential areas as the water table keeps dropping because most households and businesses are resorting to borehole water given the unreliable supplies from the City of Harare.
Contributing to debate on the Ward 18 pre-budget consultative meeting held virtually in September, some residents from the northern suburbs felt the drilling of boreholes at most residential and businesses premises was
not sustainable.
The residents suggested the drilling of community boreholes and then connecting households or businesses to share one borehole instead of the current situation where almost every property owner is contemplating having their own borehole.
According to the residents, in some countries borehole drilling is not done per individual property but they get residents and businesses to share from a few boreholes drilled within a suburb, commercial or industrial area.
Councillor Makone
In June last year, Borrowdale residents united to fight the awarding of permits for bulk water abstraction in residential areas given the effects it has on the water table.
Leading the campaign, the Borrowdale Ratepayers and Residents Association said in a statement:
“We as residents signed a petition to say no to bulk water abstraction in this residential area as prescribed by law.
“We invite you as (Harare) Wetlands Trust, ZICORRA (Zimbabwe Combined Residents and Ratepayers Association) and the residents to make our objection to this illegal bulk water abstraction that endangers our ground water supply. This is the only water source that we as residents rely on.”
Residents are also complaining that the tankers used to deliver the water are damaging roads and causing accidents following the death of two boys aged 13 and 14 recently who were hit at the intersection of Crowhill Road and Firstly Drive by a bulk water tanker while cycling.
Mr Muguti also said that all brick moulding companies should have mining licences that stipulate how the companies should reclaim the land.
A lot of land in Harare has been destroyed through sand poaching.
The Harare Provincial Development Coordinator said the rise in demand for bricks in the country has seen an adverse increase in sand poaching with informal brick making businesses disregarding mining and council by-laws and regulations as they are destroying riverbeds and digging holes almost everywhere without care or remorse leaving huge gullies.
He also called for the confiscation of bricks and durawall panels that are being sold on roadsides.
Traders selling bricks have mushroomed particularly along Emmerson Mnangagwa Road (formerly Enterprise Road) and durawall panels along Borrowdale Road, which has since been renamed Liberation Legacy Way.
“They are not paying rates. Trucks leave the bricks on the roadside as a way of advertising,” said Mr Muguti.
The City of Harare has since installed height restrictions at the Total garage at Helensvale shopping centre in a bid to stop the illegal selling of bulk water, which is said to be causing chaos at the shops.
In an interview recently, Ward 18 Councillor Ian Makone said they installed the height barriers to protect the Helensvale business community.
“We put height restrictions at Helensvale shops at Total garage where there are water delivery trucks. It’s because somebody, completely against the law, is selling water.
“It’s illegal and those water delivery trucks are lining up to fetch water. What we can do to protect the business community is to put those height restrictions. They are going in and we hope that stops it,” he said.
