Uproar Over Government Plan to Privatise Water Supply
Edgar Gweshe
Harare – A major confrontation is brewing between the government and residents’ associations across the country over a plan to privatise water provision in Harare, Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls.
Residents’ associations argue that the government has reneged on its obligation to provide water and view privatisation as a looting scheme that will further restrict citizens’ access to this essential resource.
On Monday, the Minister of Local Government, Daniel Garwe, stated that the decision to privatise water supply stemmed from the “failure” of local authorities to deliver on their mandate.
He revealed that the government had already received five expressions of interest from domestic firms and three from international entities.
However, residents’ associations maintain that the underlying motive for water privatisation is profit rather than improving access.
Reuben Akili, Director of the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), criticised the move, asserting that privatisation “has never been a solution” to water challenges.
He accused the government of using privatisation as a way to shirk responsibility over service delivery.
“As CHRA, we have always opposed water privatisation because of its implications in terms of access,” said Akili in an interview with NewsHub.
“The motive for private companies is to make sure they make profit so it’s very suicidal for government to privatise public goods.
“It is also a way of surrendering public infrastructure to private individuals. Privatisation increases the cost of water through the profit motive,” he added.
Akili decried that, across Africa, privatisation of water services has largely failed, yet Zimbabwe continues to pursue this “disastrous agenda.”
“Throughout Africa, the motive of water privatisation has failed and we wonder why we continue to push a failed agenda.
“This idea of privatising is to escape accountability and we have seen institutions that are supposed to be responsible and now they want to hand over to private individuals who are not accountable to the public.
“That mechanism is frail in terms of ensuring good water governance. We can assure you this will fail just like the pre-pad water campaign,” added Akili.
The city of Kigali in Rwanda, though, successfully adopted water privatisation through a public-private partnership, with Botswana subsequently taking up the model in 2015.
But debate still rages on whether the private sector should play a role in public water generation and distribution.
Akili further lamented the government’s failure to translate public taxes into improved services, including reliable water supply.
Precious Shumba, the Harare Residents Trust (HRT) director, blamed central government interference for undermining local authorities, most of which are led by the opposition.
He argued that privatisation is not a solution to Harare’s ongoing water crisis.
“What is needed is not privatisation of public services but integrity of public institutions so that performance management is strengthened to curb corruption and wasteful expenditures.
“The current failures in urban local authorities is driven more by partisan policymaking at both the national government and local authorities levels,” Shumba told NewsHub.
“The government has been responsible for the crippling of urban local authorities under the opposition leadership through overbearing interference in the employment and dismissal of senior council managers, budget formulation, procurement, water treatment chemicals and waste management,” added Shumba.
Shumba further alleged that government officials, including cabinet ministers and members of the presidium, are positioning proxy companies to take over municipal functions under the guise of improving service delivery.
Bulawayo mayor, David Coltart declined to comment saying he was not yet acquainted with government’s proposed plans to privatise water supply.
“It is premature to comment. I will need to study the precise government proposals before I am in a position to comment accurately,” said Coltart
Stanley Gama, spokesperson for the City of Harare, declined to comment, referring queries to his mayor, Jacob Mafume.
“Please contact the mayor he is the one handling the issue,” said Gama.
Mafume was not responding to calls.
The Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) has also condemned the city council’s proposal to establish a private water and sanitation utility.
The association argues that such privatisation violates Section 77 of the Zimbabwean constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to clean, safe, and potable water.
“This is a clear elitist approach which will disproportionately affect low-income households already struggling with the rising cost of living,” said BPRA director, Permanent Ngoma.
“To add, privatisation of water means the cost of water might rise, meaning it will further infringe on the rights of the residents in terms of accessibility of the precious liquid, and compromise the quality-of-service delivery as a whole.
“We also have fears over the decline in water quality, reduced maintenance and investment in infrastructure that is likely to decline due to this privatisation,” added Ngoma.
Prior to the government’s plans to privatise water, Harare residents expressed significant concerns over the government’s decision to allow Geo Pomona, a private company, to take over waste management in the capital.
Residents argued that the deal, which will costs the cash-strapped municipality some US$9 million annually, was imposed without proper consultation and lacks transparency.
Additionally, residents raised the fear that the financial obligations tied to the agreement could further strain the city’s already limited resources.