By Cathleen Muchena
Harare’s residents are pushing back against a controversial government move to privatize water services, warning that it threatens public health and undermines local governance.
The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) and Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) have condemned the Ministry of Local Government for seizing control of key decision-making from the City of Harare, calling it a calculated effort to hand over water services to politically connected elites.
Threat to Local Authority and Public Health
According to Chapter 14 of the Constitution, local authorities should operate autonomously, making decisions and managing their revenue streams without undue interference. However, the government’s push to privatize Harare’s water supply directly contradicts this mandate.
The plan involves transferring the council-owned Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant to a private entity under the guise of rehabilitation. Critics argue this is nothing short of “sanctioned theft” that will strip the local authority of its ability to serve residents while benefiting a select few.
Failed Prepaid Metering and Hidden Agendas
Despite the failure of previous prepaid water metering projects, authorities are now pushing for the installation of 650,000 prepaid meters across Harare. This raises red flags about the real intentions behind the privatization push, as many believe it prioritizes profits over people’s basic right to clean water.
The HRT and CHRA insist that simply installing prepaid meters will not resolve the deep-rooted governance issues plaguing Harare’s water service delivery. Instead, they call for greater transparency and accountability—both within the City of Harare and the central government.
A Dangerous Precedent
Criticism has also been directed at the Harare Mayor for allowing the water services takeover without public consultation or full council approval.
This lack of engagement has fueled suspicions that the privatization agenda is being fast-tracked without considering its devastating impact on residents.
HRT and CHRA demand full implementation of devolution, as outlined in the Constitution, alongside strict adherence to principles of constitutionalism and local governance.
While experts predict the privatization plan may eventually collapse, it could first drain public funds and expose residents to severe public health risks.
The question remains: will Harare’s water crisis be solved, or will it become yet another example of governance failure at the expense of ordinary citizens?
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