Suburban
The City of Harare says it is working on replacing pipes which are blocked resulting in residents of Sentosa failing to get water.
Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter
It is also repairing burst water pipes in efforts to ensure that the suburb has access to council tap water.
This follows the intervention of Harare West Member of Parliament Ms Joana Mamombe after complaints from residents over the unavailability of water for between three weeks and a month resulting in them having to spend US$40 a week buying water from bulk suppliers.
“I have been in touch with Engineer (Victor) Musikavanhu (acting Harare water director) and his team has been working tirelessly on the ground repairing burst pipes and replacing pipe works with constricted flows.
“The unavailability of water in most of the western side of Harare has been affected by power outages and the rotational provision of water towards Alex and Letombo reservoirs especially in Sentosa because it’s on high ground,” said Ms Mamombe.
Ms Mamombe said she was advised that the works should be completed in a week’s time.
But some residents queried if their water challenges of almost two decades can be resolved in a week’s time while others reiterated the need for a meeting with Eng Musikavanhu.
In a related matter, council said it had also fixed the problems that had been preventing residents of Madokero Phase 1.1 from receiving water for the past four months.
A City of Harare water superintendent for Ward 16, a Mr Mushandu told Suburban on Wednesday that they had rectified the problem in Madokero and there was now improved pressure meaning residents should expect tap water.
“We have increased our pressure so we are waiting to see the impact on the ground that is starting Thursday evening,” he said.
Last week, Engineer Musikavanhu said he had sent the municipality’s plumbing team to attend to the problem.
Madokero residents, in previous interviews, told Suburban that they were having to spend US$20 to buy 2 500 litres of water from bulk water suppliers due to the absence of tap water.
The residents were also complaining that no explanations were forthcoming from council or its officials as to why they were not receiving water.
The residents said their water bills had not changed despite the fact that they were not getting municipal tap water.
Contacted for comment, Madokero Estates Residents Association Committee member, Mr Trymore Chikomo said he would only comment on the repairs by council after water starts flowing in residents’ taps.
