Cabinet allowed the Harare City Council to draw water from the Manyame dam with water supply capacity at Morton Jaffray limited due to the poor quality of raw water in Lake Chivero.
The decision comes after Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa visited Morton Jaffray Water Treatment to assess the situation obtaining thereat according to Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa at a post-cabinet press briefing in Harare yesterday.
“An assessment of Manyame and Warren Control Pump Stations revealed that pollution of water at Lake Chivero is worse compared to Manyame,” Mutsvangwa said.
“Cabinet concurs that pumping water from Lake Manyame reduces the usage of aluminium sulphate by 26.8%. This will consequently reduce the cost of treating water as aluminium sulphate is the main chemical.”
Following the decision to use water from Lake Manyamwe, the cabinet went on to resolve that the Treasury should avail US$9.3 million for urgent works at Manyame and Warren Control Pump Station, which are to be completed in two months.
Chemical Corporation will be allocated with enough foreign curreny to import water treatment chemicals according to the cabinet.
The cabinet also resolved that the Government provides loan guarantees for the various water and sanitation projects to be undertaken by local authorities using the various project procurement methods that suit their specific requirements.
Heft fines should be imposed on polluters of water sources according to the cabinet and also local authorities be allowed to sign the various Agreements that will ensure the supply of adequate and affordable potable water to the public while ensuring recovery of funds advanced to local authorities by Government.
Water challenges have persisted in Harare with suburbs going for days without the life-saving liquid.
Civic societies were seeking President Emmerson Mnangagwa to declare the water challenges in Harare a national disaster, but the government has been reluctant.
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