Harare’s long-standing water challenges are set to ease significantly following a major intervention through a public-private partnership (PPP) between the Government, the City of Harare, and HELCRAW Private Limited.
The initiative marks a decisive step toward restoring consistent water supply, improving infrastructure, and advancing the national vision for universal access to clean water.
Speaking at Town House yesterday during the handover of six double cab and ten single cab vehicles to the City of Harare, HELCRAW chief executive Mr Brendon Jere expressed confidence that the capital’s water problems would soon be a thing of the past.
“We have come up with a sustainable, holistic solution to address the water challenges that we have. Working with the City of Harare, we are fixing and replacing burst pipes to deal with non-revenue water, replacing postpaid meters with prepaid ones in areas receiving water, and rehabilitating Morton Jaffray Waterworks to increase capacity,” said Jere.
He added that the programme will soon bring visible change across the city as long-dry taps begin to flow again, in line with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, which seeks to ensure every household has access to potable water.
Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume described the partnership as one of the city’s flagship PPP projects, showcasing the efficiency and impact of working with the private sector.
“The private sector is a critical component of our service delivery toolkit. If we had gone through traditional public procurement processes, these vehicles would have taken two years to arrive. Yet within months of signing the agreement, we already have the vehicles, the pipes have been purchased, and work is underway,” said Clr Mafume.
He noted that the collaboration mirrors other successful PPPs, such as the Geo Pomona waste management project and the Trabablas road construction initiative, which have significantly improved infrastructure delivery in record time.
Clr Mafume thanked President Mnangagwa, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, and Harare Metropolitan Minister Senator Charles Tawengwa for facilitating and supporting these partnerships aimed at improving service delivery.
The new fleet, he said, will enhance the city’s rapid response capacity to address burst pipes and sewer blockages, which have long frustrated residents.
“People were complaining about burst sewer and water pipes. Now we will have a rapid response,” said the mayor. He added that prepaid water meters will help reduce non-revenue water losses, currently at 60 percent, to around 10 percent.
Clr Mafume emphasised the need to prevent contamination along the water distribution network, noting that water leaves Morton Jaffray clean but sometimes becomes unsafe due to old, leaking pipes.
The Mayor concluded by announcing that President Mnangagwa will officially hand over the fleet to the City of Harare at a date to be announced, underscoring the Government’s commitment to modern, efficient, and sustainable urban service delivery.
Private-public partnership are the way to go for the betterment and development of our country.