Assessment of Harare water service delivery
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Date
2010
Authors
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Publisher
University of Dar es salaam
Abstract
Water service provision is proving a challenge for most water utilities in developing countries and Zimbabwe is no exception. In Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, the service delivery has been deteriorating from 2005 when Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) took over the mandate from Harare City Council (HCC). The challenges were evidenced by persistent chronic water shortages which forced people to adopt unsafe water sources leading to outbreak of waterborne diseases. In February 2009, HCC repossessed the mandate. This study assesses HCC’s performance by focusing on water service delivery. Key aspects investigated included service quality, affordability, water production and demand, coverage and Non-Revenue Water. The nerve centre to this research is a sample study that was carried out in Harare from February to March 2010. Data was collected by means of literature review, interviews and field observations. Harare water utility has a Non-Revenue Water of 35-40% and coverage of about 98%. The study established that active coverage was 88.1 % and residents without tap water were resisting payment of monthly fixed charges. Only 50.4% of the population had a 24 hour service and 54.8% of the residents perceived water to be of poor quality and have resorted to household level disinfection methods, drinking borehole and bottled water. Service availability was still poorer in the eastern suburbs compared to western areas. It is recommended that the Government form and capacitate a strong regulatory board, diversify water sources, outsource some of the water service divisions and also scrap off fixed charges for residents without tap water.
Description
: Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF TD319.Z55T57)
Keywords
water, Assessment
Citation
Auxillia, T (2010) Assessment of Harare water service delivery, Master dissertation University of Dares Salaam. Dar es Salaam.