By Nigel Pfunde
HARARE– Taps have started flowing in Helemsvale, Borrowdale after more than two decades of chronic water shortages, with Government declaring a firm commitment to end the capital’s protracted service delivery crisis.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said Government “means business” in restoring consistent water supplies to Harare residents.
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The breakthrough, which began on Thursday, has brought relief to communities that endured 20 to 25 years of erratic or non-existent provision. Families had been forced to rely on rainwater harvesting and other alternatives, posing significant health risks.
On Friday, Minister Garwe, accompanied by Helcraw Water Chief Executive Farai Jere and officials from Laison Technologies, toured affected households in the suburb.
Residents described the restoration of water as a miracle after years of hardship.
“This is the Second Republic delivering,” said Minister Garwe. He said Harare’s long-standing water woes were now “a relic of the past.”
The intervention forms part of a smart water metering project between the City of Harare and private partner Helcraw Water. The system incorporates prepaid meters, remote data collection, anti-tamper technology and real-time monitoring to boost revenue collection, enhance efficiency and reduce water losses.
More than 60 000 households across Harare have been equipped with prepaid meters under the initiative. Authorities say the programme has curbed leakages and improved accountability in billing systems.
Helcraw has also intensified rehabilitation works at Morton Jaffray Water Works, the capital’s primary treatment plant, to augment production and ensure consistent supply.
Minister Garwe announced the programme would be expanded to 92 local authorities nationwide.
“This nationwide rollout is a crucial stride towards achieving Zimbabwe’s goal of becoming an upper-middle-income society by 2030,” he said.
Residents welcomed the development with cautious optimism and urged communities to safeguard the restored supply.
Rolf Valley resident Wilson Johnson said the changes represented “tangible progress in service delivery.”
During the visit, Minister Garwe and engineers from Helcraw Water tested the water on-site in the presence of this reporter.
He expressed “complete satisfaction” with its quality.
The assurance follows previous complaints from residents over unsafe and foul-smelling water. Helcraw officials said the issues had been comprehensively addressed through infrastructure upgrades and pipe replacements.
