By Tendai Chisiri
“Just because voting is over, we are back to the old days when some parts of Glen-Norah tap water is not available even at night thus excerbating the availability of diseases like typhoid and cholera due to the unhygienic environment”, fumed Glen-Norah high-density suburb residents in unison.
Glen-Norah, may be due to its geographical location of being on a hilly terrain area has always been disadvantaged at it experiences erratic water supplies unlike neighbouring high-density suburbs like Highfield and Glen-View. It was only three months before elections up to elections day that tap water was available in Glen-norah households between 18:00 hours and 06:00 hours.
Although some parts of Glen-Norah on low terrain areas receive water even during the day , this shows the incompetence of Harare City Council to have top-notch service delivery. It seems for the hilly terrain households, there is no answer to their problems as water shortages have already started.
” In the mild terrain areas, tap water was available around 03:00 hours, it had no pressure and around 06:00 hours it was no longer available”, said a resident on condition of anonymity.
Also residents are shocked by the exorbitant water charges by Harare City Council. “It is not fair. Tap water is usually available at night whilst we are asleep. Early in the morning before we have woken it would be unavailable. However, the council bills are unmanageable. Last time.my bill was at $370 000 ZWL and now it is at $550 000 ZWL. We don’t understand how they are calculating the interests and the current water charges as it looks the water charges are skyrocketing abnormally with the erratic supply of it”, said a mother in Glen-Norah on condition of anonymity. Harare City Council’s bills are usually send via mobile phones.
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)councillor elect George Mujajati said, “I have just spoken to the engineer in charge of water for Harare city council.He pointed out that there is a burst pipe at Jeffrey Morton Water Works which is being worked upon right now. He also sighted the issue of deplited water treatment chemical. Hoping for a solution soon. Will continue to pressurize until we get the much needed water”.
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