The residents call come after scientists tested Harare borehole water and declared that it was not fit for human consumption.
“We are informed that at least 17 boreholes in Harare are contaminated with typhoid causing bacteria yet residents continue to access water from these boreholes. We have asked the city to immediately close these boreholes and stop the spread of the disease,” said CHRA in a statement.
The city of Harare is currently blighted by an outbreak of typhoid which has hit hard high density suburbs which are affected by water shortages.
With taps dry residents turn to borehole water which has been certified not to be so safe.
The city of Harare which is the epicenter of the outbreak has been recently on a clampdown on vendors and illegal food joints but, CHRA said that such a move is a half baked solution.
“The government has abdicated on its responsibility to guarantee the right to water. Government through the Ministry of Finance, local Government and Water must reintroduce public sector finance targeting water infrastructure development in order to curb future problems. In addition government must come up with a long Term national Strategy on Water Reticulation and Management.”
Last week Harare city fathers said that high density suburbs would receive water around the clock but CHIRA said that several residents in Kuwadzana are disconnected.
Disconnecting Tap water during a crisis is retrogressive as it serves to exacerbate the problem of communicable diseases. If the City fathers do not respond to our URGENT call we will be forced to make a court application in this regard.
Last year the council received a loan of US$144 from Afrexim Bank in China to renovate and improve water services but said that the money fail short to revamp the archaic water and sewerage reticulation systems which predate the country’s independence.
Post published in: News