For years, Harare has struggled with a failing water system, discharging sewage into its primary water source while charging residents high fees for purification. Despite these costs, the water remains unsafe, with locals spending up to a fifth of their income on unreliable and often contaminated supplies.
Now, the city is considering privatizing its water system. In January, Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe announced that both local and international companies have been invited to submit proposals. While officials argue privatization could improve water quality, residents fear it may lead to even higher costs.
A Daily Struggle for Clean Water
Junior Buta, a resident of Harare, says she spends nearly 20% of her income on municipal water, which is only available every three to four days. When it does arrive, it is murky, foul-smelling, and unsafe for drinking.
“We use it for watering plants, and once it clears, we collect it in bowls,” Buta explains. “Even after sitting for a day, dirt still settles at the bottom.”
Harare’s water supply comes from Lake Chivero, which has served the city for over 70 years. However, pollution has rendered the lake one of the world’s most contaminated, with raw and semi-treated sewage regularly dumped into it.
A Failing System with Dire Consequences
Harare’s Mayor, Jacob Mafume, acknowledges the city’s role in the pollution crisis but attributes the issue to outdated sewage infrastructure and waste disposal by industries.
Lake Chivero’s depth has dropped from 28 meters to 18 meters due to sediment buildup. In December 2024, cyanobacteria in the lake caused the deaths of four rhinos, thousands of fish, and other wildlife. A 2023 Global Press Journal investigation also found high levels of contaminants in Harare’s drinking water.
Despite the city spending between $2.5 million and $3 million monthly on purification, residents say the efforts are ineffective.
“The cost is outrageous for water that isn’t even clean,” Buta says.
Privatization: A Solution or a Threat?
Authorities argue that handing over water management to private firms will improve supply and quality. In January, Harare partnered with Hangzhou Laison Tech, a Chinese company, and local firm Helcraw Electrical to construct a new water-treatment plant.
However, residents like Aaron Kagande remain skeptical. He fears a scenario similar to the electricity sector, where people pay in advance for a service that is unreliable.
“We don’t know if this is about improving water or fueling corruption,” Kagande says.
Privatization Elsewhere: A Risky Experiment
Other African nations have attempted water privatization with mixed results.
Johannesburg, South Africa saw costs rise and water access decline for low-income communities, sparking protests.
Lusaka, Zambia faced service disruptions and increased tariffs after privatizing its water system, worsening inequalities.
Rueben Akili, director of the Combined Harare Residents Trust, believes privatization is just a way for the government to shift responsibility, reducing accountability.
A Desperate Search for Safe Water
Due to the unreliable municipal supply, Buta buys water from neighbors with boreholes, paying $1 for three buckets.
“I haven’t drunk Harare’s tap water since 2008, during the cholera outbreak,” she says. “I keep hearing reports of diarrhea from those who do.”
But even borehole water isn’t safe. A 2024 Natural Environment Research Council study found high contamination levels in 21 boreholes across the city.
For Buta, the solution is simple: “The best way forward is preventing pollution at its source.”
Until then, she continues to boil water before using it, hoping to protect her family from contamination.
