Govt unveils $80m plan to avert water crisis in Greater Harare

GOVERNMENT has stepped up measures to prevent a water crisis in greater Harare as residents grapple with acute shortages and failing sewer infrastructure. Yesterday, Government rolled out a comprehensive 2026–2030 Lake Chivero Pollution Mitigation and Restoration Plan, with support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Lake Chivero supplies potable water to millions of residents in the capital and surrounding areas.

To address this, the Government has directed local authorities to prioritise the $80 million-plus needed for urgent repairs to sewers and treatment plants in the greater Harare area, which includes Harare, Chitungwiza and Ruwa. This also comes as some local authorities were partnering private sector entities to improve service delivery and tackle water challenges. In 2024, greater Harare’s main water was declared to be at a critical ecological failure point that posed a serious threat to water security, public health and biodiversity, leading to the latest measures.

The intervention adopts an “All-Manyame Catchment” approach, acknowledging that pollution at Lake Chivero was driven by systemic and multi-sectoral pressures, including sewage discharges, industrial effluent and upstream environmental degradation, and required coordinated action by central Government, local authorities, regulators, the private sector and surrounding communities. Environment, Climate and Wildlife Permanent Secretary Ambassador Tadeous Chifamba said the plan will coordinate action across Government ministries, local authorities, regulators, the private sector and communities.