Honourable Farai Jere of Helcraw Water joined a tour of water infrastructure projects in Harare on 23 October, as part of efforts to strengthen the city’s water supply through partnerships and innovation.
The tour brought together a delegation from the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) and officials from the City of Harare. Its aim was to advance water infrastructure development by combining public and private expertise, and to see for themselves how projects are progressing on the ground.
Three stops, three projects
The programme included inspections of three sites that show different parts of the water system, from the pipes in the street to the plant that treats the water.
The first was the Southerton pipe replacement project. Ageing pipes are a common cause of leaks and interruptions to supply, and replacing them is one of the most direct ways to reduce water loss and improve reliability for households. During the visit, Honourable Jere also spoke with Southerton residents, who are among those who stand to benefit from the work.
The second stop was Mabelreign, where the delegation looked at smart prepaid water meters. Prepaid meters allow households to pay for the water they use, and can help both residents and the council keep track of consumption. For a city that has struggled with billing and revenue collection, such technology is seen as a way to make the system more transparent and sustainable.
The tour ended at the Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Works, Harare’s main source of treated water. Visiting the plant allowed the delegation to see how raw water is treated and sent into the network, and to discuss where investment and new ideas could make the most difference.
Partnerships and innovation
The visit reflects a wider push to bring private companies and investment agencies into the work of improving water services. Water infrastructure needs steady funding, technical skills and good management, and partnerships between the public and private sectors are seen as one way to supply them. ZIDA’s presence on the tour signals interest in attracting investment into the sector.
Combining a repair project, a new metering system and a major treatment plant in one programme also showed how closely these parts of the water system are linked. Reliable pipes, accurate billing and a well-run plant all depend on one another.
For now, the tour was a chance for the partners to see the work first-hand and to talk to the people it is meant to serve.
