etent sewer and water administration. CHRA received an up sage of reports on burst sewers that have not been attended to for ages and a new wave of disease outbreaks arising form these sewer bursts. The water situation has also reached critical levels as residents in most parts of Harare for days without water. In Mabvuku and Tafara the situation is even desperate as residents are collecting water in streams a situation that has heavily compromised the health of residents.
In Glen View and Budiriro residents are also reeling under heavy water cuts. The power situation has not been the better. The water situation is worse in Bulawayo where residents go for weeks without running water. ZINWA has maintained that it needs heavy capital input from government in order to undertake maintenance work and improve its services.
The power situation has not been the better at all. The power authority actually predicts the situation will not improve until at least 2010. Zimbabwe used to receive power supplies from South Africa , Botswana , Mozambique and the Democratic republic of Congo . Only Mozambique continues to supply a meager amount of power as others have opted out due non payment from Zimbabwe . The power authority maintains that it also needs heavy foreign currency input to provide effective services. Zimbabwe produces and imports a combined capacity which is slightly above half the expected capacity. This means that on a daily basis half of Zimbabweans have to without power.
The refuse situation has also worsened. Informal and formal dumping sites continue to be flooded with uncollected waste as the city of Harare claims that it has no fuel to carry out effective waste management services. In Mbare this has led to disease outbreaks like Cholera and Dysentery. The healthy delivery system is receiving and processing hundreds of cases related to Cholera and Dysentery every month.
This week CHRA has collected the stories (headlines) below for your consumption. These stories serve to reflect the local governance challenges faced by the residents in Harare and Zimbabwe . From this week we will only be sending you briefs so as to avoid loading your e-mails.
Should we pay ZINWA for Mukuvisi water? The story covers the concerns of a disgruntled resident who is conscientising other residents not to fund an incompetent body that is not providing a service. The contributor poses a rhetorical question on why they should pay ZINWA when the body is not providing quality service. ( Sunday Mail 16 September 2007) www.sundaymail.co.zw
Dumpsite fire raises fears of ` Bhopal `. The story raises the challenges that have come as a result of waste incineration by the City of Harare at the Pomona dumpsite. ( The Standard 16 September 2007) www.thestandard.co.zw
MDC accuses Chombo of meddling in Nkayi RDC. The story covers fears raised by the MDC on the meddling of the voters roll by Minister Chombo( The Standard 16 September 2007) www.thestandard.co.zw
Bulawayo to get water once in 11 days. The story highlights the water crisis in Bulawayo amid revelations that the situation will deteriorate. (Zimonline 21 September 2007) www.zimonline.co.za.
For more information contact the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) on the addresses below.
CHRA Information Desk
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
145 Robert Mugabe Way
Exploration House Third Floor
Harare
Mobile : 0912638401
011540240
Landline: 00263- 4- 705114