Harare Boosts Water Supply with New Pumps, Prepaid Meters

Harare is upgrading its water system with new high-powered pumps and prepaid water meters (image source)

Harare’s water delivery system is set for a significant upgrade following the installation of new high-powered pumps at the Morton Jaffray Water Works and the introduction of prepaid water meters across the capital — part of a government-backed partnership aimed at ending chronic shortages and improving accountability.

Engineers have fitted new pumps at Morton Jaffray capable of delivering up to 1,000 litres of water per second, a move expected to stabilise supplies to high-density suburbs that have endured years of erratic access. During a tour of the upgraded plant, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare, Charles Tavengwa, hailed the milestone as a cornerstone of service-delivery reform.

“You cannot run an economy without water. It is critical that we have enough safe and clean water readily available to the residents of Harare,” Tavengwa said.

He added that the broader goal was to strengthen infrastructure and public-service reliability across the province.

The prepaid water-meter programme, developed in partnership with Helcraw Private Limited, will enable residents to pay for water before consumption, mirroring Zimbabwe’s existing prepaid electricity model. City engineers say the system is designed to reduce unpaid bills, encourage responsible use, and improve revenue collection.

“The meters automatically stop water flow if payment is not made to the City Council,” an engineer supervising the rollout explained.

Helcraw confirmed that the first installations will target high-density suburbs, supported by community education campaigns to help residents manage consumption efficiently.

While residents have welcomed the promise of consistent supply, some have urged city authorities to ensure the expansion benefits marginalised areas.

“We kindly ask that water be provided in suburbs where it has never been available,” said one Mufakose resident, reflecting the sentiment of many communities on Harare’s periphery.

According to City of Harare officials, the prepaid model could recover millions in outstanding water bills while reducing the city’s operational losses — funds that can be reinvested in pipe replacement, treatment-plant maintenance, and new distribution infrastructure.

Water reliability is a critical enabler for Harare’s manufacturing, hospitality, and construction sectors, which have long grappled with inconsistent supply and rising private-borehole costs. Experts note that improved delivery could lower production overheads and attract new industrial investment to the capital. The water-rehabilitation partnership aligns with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which prioritises infrastructure recovery and sustainable service delivery by 2030.

Installation of prepaid meters is expected to begin this quarter, while additional pump upgrades are planned before the 2025/26 rainy season. The City of Harare says the long-term vision includes expanding treated-water capacity to 500 megalitres per day, enough to meet peak urban demand.