Water woes plague Marlborough

Suburban

Residents of Ward 41 in Harare from suburbs such as Marlborough, Avonlea, Redroofs, Area D, Westgate, and Bluff Hill, are facing a water crisis owing damages to major water pipes in the ward.

Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter

According to the City of Harare, the road construction company, Fossil Contracting which is fixing the Harare- Chirundu Highway including city roads such as Nemakonde Way damaged a major water pipe, linked to the Lomagundi Reservoir. This has resulted in burst pipes in Bluff Hill and along Bahunia Road, affecting water supply to Area D, Bluff Hill and Westgate. Council water officials have assured residents that the leaks are being addressed and water delivery should be restored by the end of this week.As part of fixing the Harare-Chirundu Highway, Fossil Contracting is also repairing roads from the Harare Main Post Office to the Westgate roundabout. It has since completed the following roads; Ahmed ben Bella Avenue, Patrice Lumumba Street (formerly Third Street) and Cork Road.

In a statement, Ward 41 Councillor Kudzai Kadzombe said the recent damage to water pipes is a deep concern to residents, empathising with the residents who are facing water shortages as a result. She assured the residents that she is doing everything in her power to get council workers to restore water in the affected suburbs.

“I have been in contact with the water superintendent, and I am assured that the faults are being addressed with urgency. Restoring water delivery to our communities is a top priority. I will continue to work closely with relevant authorities to ensure that the necessary measures are taken to prevent such incidents in the future. The engagement and activism of our residents are crucial and I encourage continued collaboration as we address the broader systemic issues affecting our city’s water distribution,” said Cllr Kadzombe.

The water problems in the Redroofs area and other parts of the ward are part of a larger issues with the city’s water supply. The City of Harare has been grappling with various water-related problems, including burst pipes, inadequate infrastructure, water treatment chemicals supply challenges and maintenance issues.

These challenges have led to intermittent or complete lack of water supply in several neighbourhoods, causing inconvenience and hardship for residents. The situation in the Redroofs area where residents have not had water in their taps since last year, is indicative of the broader systemic issues affecting the city’s water distribution.