Harare moves to end long‑running drainage crisis-Mayor Mafume

Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has unveiled an aggressive slate of measures aimed at finally resolving the capital’s chronic drainage and sewer problems, pledging a citywide overhaul backed by a new municipal budget now under preparation.

Speaking at Town House on Wednesday, Mafume said the city could no longer afford to treat flooding and sewer bursts as seasonal inconveniences.
“For too long, Harare has lived with blocked drains, collapsing sewer lines and flooding that puts lives and businesses at risk.

“We are now taking decisive action to rebuild the system from the ground up,” said Mayor Mafume.

He said the council had completed identifying the most affected zones in the city centre, including Julius Nyerere Way, Robert Mugabe Road, Nelson Mandela Avenue and surrounding high‑traffic corridors.

Mayor Mafume said the new plan includes clearing decades-old blockages, replacing outdated infrastructure and redesigning stormwater channels to cope with modern urban demand.

“We are embarking on a full revamp of Harare’s drainage and sewer network.

“This is not patchwork maintenance. This is a structural overhaul that will ensure our systems can withstand heavy rains, prevent flooding and improve public health across the city.”

The mayor confirmed that work has already begun in central Harare with engineering teams deployed to clear silted drains, remove illegal connections and install new piping in hotspots.

Similar operations will roll out in the suburbs in the coming weeks.

“To achieve this, the council is working on a comprehensive budget framework that will support the entire programme.
“We are mobilising resources internally and exploring external partnerships to make sure funding does not stall progress. Harare residents deserve a city whose infrastructure works and we are committed to delivering exactly that,” he said.

The new measures come as residents have repeatedly blamed council for perennial flash floods and sewer spillages during the rainy season.
Mayor Mafume said the city is determined to break the cycle.

“Our goal is simple,” he said. “A clean, safe, well‑drained Harare. And we are acting now to make it a reality.”