Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume Admits City Cannot Solve Water Crisis Alone

Residents in several Harare suburbs have been forced to rely on boreholes as the city battles a deepening water crisis.

Jacob Mafume, the Mayor of Harare, has acknowledged that the city authorities are struggling to address the capital’s worsening water crisis, warning that the scale of the problem now exceeds the municipality’s capacity.

Speaking on the ongoing water challenges affecting residents across the city, Mafume said the local authority cannot simply “perform abracadabra” to fix the crisis, highlighting the depth of infrastructure and environmental problems facing the capital.

Appeal for National Government Intervention

Mafume confirmed that the city has appealed to the national government for urgent support, writing to the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet requesting intervention from Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In the correspondence, the mayor warned that the situation presents a serious public health concern.

“The contents of the Town Clerk’s letter present a clear and compelling case that the current situation in Harare is no longer tenable and poses an imminent threat to public health,” Mafume said.

He cited several critical issues, including pollution in Lake Chivero and the deterioration of key water and sanitation infrastructure.

“The issues highlighted, including the contamination of Lake Chivero and the widespread failure of critical infrastructure, demand urgent intervention at the highest level.”

Mafume added that the scale and complexity of the crisis had outpaced the city council’s ability to respond effectively.

Legal Action Over Pollution

The environmental crisis has also triggered legal action from businessman Gary Stafford, who operates a wildlife park affected by pollution in Lake Chivero. Stafford has filed a lawsuit against the Harare City Council, Zimbabwe National Water Authority, Environmental Management Agency, and Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority over contamination that he says has led to the death of animals and fish and forced the suspension of lake-related tourism activities.

“My claim is not merely premised on the death of animals. It is premised on the closure of lake activities, which negatively impacted my resort,” Stafford said.

Residents Face Prolonged Water Shortages

Meanwhile, residents in several suburbs, including Kuwadzana, say they have gone weeks without running water, forcing families to rely on boreholes and other alternative sources.

Some residents report waiting several hours to access water from community boreholes due to high demand.

Community leader Brian Mapira said residents have also struggled to get assistance with sewage blockages due to resource shortages within the council.

Residents’ Groups Demand Accountability

The Combined Harare Residents Association has also criticised the city council, arguing that the municipality must address service delivery failures while continuing to collect rates from residents. Harare has faced recurring water shortages for years, largely attributed to ageing infrastructure, population growth, and pollution in major water sources such as Lake Chivero, the city’s primary reservoir.

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume; water crisis; Harare residents