Borrowdale Residents Celebrate as Water Flows

National Expansion Planned-Minister Garwe  

After more than two decades of relentless water scarcity, a new era of relief has dawned for the residents of Borrowdale.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Honourable Daniel Garwe has declared a resolute commitment to eradicating the protracted service delivery crisis, with taps now flowing in parts of the community since Thursday.

Hon. Garwe, speaking to Hurumende News, unequivocally stated that the government “means business” in its endeavor to restore consistent water supplies.

This pivotal development brings profound hope to communities that have endured 20 to 25 years of erratic or non-existent water provision, forcing families to resort to rainwater harvesting and other precarious alternatives that posed significant health risks.

On Friday, Hon. Garwe, accompanied by Helcraw Water Chief Executive Hon. Farai Jere and officials from Laison Technologies, toured the affected households.

Residents, overwhelmed with emotion, described the moment as nothing short of a miracle after years of hardship.

“This is the Second Republic delivering,” Garwe affirmed, confidently asserting that Harare’s long-standing water woes are now a relic of the past.

This transformative intervention is an integral part of a broader smart water metering project, a collaborative effort between the City of Harare and its private partner, Helcraw Water.

The sophisticated system incorporates prepaid meters, remote data collection capabilities, advanced anti-tamper technology, and real-time monitoring.

These features are designed to significantly boost revenue collection, enhance operational efficiency and drastically reduce the water losses that have historically plagued Harare’s infrastructure.

Already, over 60,000 households across Harare have been equipped with prepaid meters under this initiative, which authorities credit with curbing leakages and fostering greater accountability within billing systems.

Furthermore, Helcraw has intensified its efforts in rehabilitating the Morton Jaffray Water Works, the capital’s primary treatment plant, aiming to augment water production and ensure a more consistent supply.

In a significant announcement, Minister Garwe revealed that this successful program will be expanded to 92 local authorities across the country.

This nationwide rollout is positioned as a crucial stride towards achieving Zimbabwe’s ambitious goal of becoming an upper-middle-income society by 2030.

Residents, who have grappled with the water crisis for generations, have welcomed this monumental development with cautious optimism, urging their communities to diligently safeguard the newly restored water supply.

Mrs Nola Dollar, a Rolf Valley resident, remarked that these changes represent tangible progress in service delivery.

During his visit, Minister Garwe, alongside engineers and Helcraw Water CEO Farai Jere, personally tested the water on-site, expressing complete satisfaction with its quality.

This assurance follows previous complaints from residents regarding unsafe and foul-smelling water, issues that Helcraw officials confirm have been comprehensively addressed through extensive infrastructure upgrades adnd pipe replacements.