Harare facing water crisis, apprehensions of an epidemic outbreak continue

Zimbabwe, the nation isn't suffering only politically and economically but also facing a major water crisis. Harare, the Zimbabwean capital gets its main water supply from Lake Chivero, which has now turned into a sewerage dumping ground. The situation is thus, resulting in an increase in cases of diarrhea and dysentery. The condition if continues can cause an epidemic in the region.

filthy water

As per the statistics, 60 public clinics in the capital were seeing 900 cases of diarrhea per day. The government in an effort to halt the spread of diseases has directed clinics to treat the patients free. However, this step taken by government doesn't deal with the source of the diseases that is the diversion of human waste collected at Harare's sewerage treatment plant to the lake. The action had been taken by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) as the sewerage treatment plant was in need of immediate repair that didn't take place due to lack of funds. The city itself is in a mess, as ZINWA has not been able to attend burst sewer pipes for the same reason. Areas like Mabvuku and Tafara haven't received portable water since last six months.

Munacho Mutezo, under whom ZINWA comes has allotted Zim$100 billion/US$400,000 for the restoration and repair of water and sewage treatment plants. Regarding the situation he said,

My ministry would like to assure residents that ZINWA is doing everything within its reach, with limited resources at its disposal, to ensure normal service.

The city is witnessing ruptured sewerage pipes, sewage flowing through streets and thousands of cases of water-borne diseases. The economy which is already in a bad state leaves the residents with almost no money to seek medical supervision or buy medicines. The residents also suffer through power cuts that are a common thing now. However, as per government officials the power supply will resume by early 2008.

Johnny Rodrigues, chairperson of an environmental activist group called Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force expressing concern over the situation said,

For a long time we have warned that diverting raw sewage and industrial effluent would have the effect of causing an outbreak of waterborne diseases. The lake into which the effluent flows is where residents catch fish for resale in urban Harare, and this creates another front ... [for diseases to] spread, especially since the fish are sold in open, unhygienic conditions.

The country is facing such a situation that people have been seen selling water. Water is either not available and if available is not portable. Water which has been compared to a divine potion and seen as a medicine, that can cure many diseases has now been seen as a poison in the economy, due to the fault of the governmental authorities.

Source: Allafrica

Image credit: Fotki