Hatcliffe at high risk of typhoid and cholera

At a meeting organized by Community Water Alliance in Hatcliff on 08 September 2018, residents expressed fears that the local community might soon be hit by water borne diseases.

Hatcliff receives 10 megalitres of water from the City of Harare per week. Zimbabwe Red Cross Society’s 2013 Vulnerability Capacity Assessment shows that Hatcliffe has 11 658 households and a population exceeding 45 000 people. The 10 megalitres of potable water which is the design capacity of the local storage tank, is by far inadequate. Of the 15 boreholes sunk by development partners, 8 are dysfunctional.

Hatcliffe is made of four sections; Old and New Hatcliffe, Cooperatives area and the Consortium areas. Majority of the houses in the Cooperative area have no sewer and water pipes laid on the ground.

There are numerous water issues in Hatcliffe. Residents presented bills showing charges for water consumption on premises which have not received water for the past ten years. Some of the residents who reside in areas where there are Housing Cooperatives, expressed sadness on the fact that the Local Authority was billing fixed water charges when there is no sewer and water pipes in the area. Residents who buy water meters using their money are not re-imbursed in line with council policy. In some areas property tax is being charged thrice by different state actors which include City of Harare, Ministry of Local Government and Ministry of Lands.

The meeting was attended by the local councilor Honorable Elvis Ruzani, local Member of Parliament Honorable Rusty Markham, Harare Water Engineer Mr. Charles Chinyanya and the Director of Epworth Residents Development Association.

Residents resolved that the upcoming City of Harare budget consultation process in Hatcliffe slated for the 22nd of September 2018, should prioritize installation of a big water storage tank.

Community Water Alliance implores Government of Zimbabwe to honour its obligations on water provision and ensure that we have HUMAN RIGHTS CITIES IN ZIMBABWE, cities that respect, protect and fulfil human rights to water, health and a clean environment.

#HumanRightsCities

Source: Community Water Alliance

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