Harare Needs US$7 Million to Revive Firle Sewage Plant

Harare’s Firle Sewage Treatment Plant operates at half capacity, prompting a US$7 million rehabilitation plan to prevent public health risks and Lake Chivero pollution (image source)

The Harare City Council says it requires at least US$7 million to rehabilitate the Firle sewage treatment plant in Glen View, which is currently operating at less than half capacity due to aging infrastructure, grease blockages, and escalating inflows of untreated waste.

Officials say the facility, which can process 144 megalitres of sewage per day, is currently treating only 50 to 60 megalitres, posing risks to public health and water quality in Lake Chivero, the capital’s primary water source. Acting town clerk Phakamile Mabhena Moyo rejected allegations that untreated sewage was being released directly into Lake Chivero, insisting that effluent is diverted to council-owned farms for disposal.

“The breakdowns of treatment units at Firle are true, the percentage of the breakdown I cannot confirm. But all untreated sewage is pumped to council farms, not directly to the lake,” Mabhena said during a recent inspection of the plant. “Our short-term budget for upgrading infrastructure is around US$6 to US$7 million.”

Mabhena noted that financial constraints and sanctions-related funding barriers have slowed progress on essential maintenance and upgrades, leaving critical pumps and pipelines in disrepair.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has launched investigations into possible environmental rights violations linked to Harare’s water and sanitation systems. ZHRC chairperson Fungayi Jessie Majome said the commission’s inspections at Firle and Morton Jaffray Water Works aimed to ensure the protection of citizens’ rights to clean and safe water.

“We make recommendations for the rectification of any issues that undermine the enjoyment of human rights or administrative justice,” Majome said. “We will continue to monitor the implementation of our recommendations and, where necessary, submit reports to the Minister of Justice for presentation to the President.”

Majome urged stronger coordination between local and central government, warning that delays in infrastructure renewal could have long-term social and economic repercussions for Harare’s 1.5 million residents.

City engineer Simon Muserere confirmed ongoing efforts to replace damaged pipelines and reinforce access points with polycarbonate covers to prevent vandalism. He said a priority project, the 2.5km Amalinda stream crossing, has exceeded its 20-year lifespan and now requires full replacement at a multimillion-dollar cost.

“We have infrastructure that’s far beyond its design life,” Muserere explained. “Normally, it is said 50% of sewer problems come from users. Once people change their attitude toward sewer management, we can cut these problems by half.”

Environmental analysts say Firle’s declining efficiency has economic ripple effects, including higher water treatment costs, reduced agricultural output downstream, and mounting expenses for emergency chemical dosing at Morton Jaffray. Experts warn that without timely intervention, Lake Chivero’s eutrophication—already worsened by industrial and household effluent—could render raw water increasingly difficult and costly to purify for citywide use.

The City of Harare says it is engaging private contractors such as Helcraw Private Limited and development partners to explore public-private financing models for the Firle upgrade. The US$7 million target covers immediate repair needs, with an estimated US$30 million required for full modernization over the next five years.

With waterborne diseases still a recurring threat in high-density suburbs, residents and rights groups say Harare’s water infrastructure can no longer afford “piecemeal fixes,” calling instead for sustained investment, transparency, and public accountability.