A new water treatment plant and smart meters are planned for construction in Harare, aimed at enhancing the water supply for residents.
This initiative promises to improve access to clean water for residents, ensuring a more reliable, cost-effective, and efficient supply system.
The deal involves the Local Government Ministry, the City of Harare, Hangzhou Laison Technology Company, and Helcraw Electrical.
During the signing ceremony in the capital yesterday, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the government’s dedication to improving the water supply network across the nation.
“Water has become a critical issue, generating significant media interest. We are now taking action. Yesterday, we met with our investors to refine our tripartite partnership.”
Minister Garwe assured the public that, even though people might worry about technology causing higher rates, it can actually help lower delivery costs. The goal is to find effective solutions that keep water affordable for everyone.
“While technology often raises concerns about increased rates, we want to reassure the public that it can actually lower delivery costs. Our goal is to implement globally effective technology that ensures affordable, world-class services for everyone,” said Minister Garwe.
Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume stressed the importance of working together to improve the capital city.
“A capital city cannot be built by the city alone; it requires the support of the central government and the private sector.”
“Cities we admire, like Kigali and New Cairo, were built through collaboration between municipalities and central governments. We see no contradiction in working together to align with citizens’ needs.”
The new arrangement is expected to reduce Harare’s water purification bill running into several millions of dollars annually.
“The net effect is that all the money that we were using to purify water will be directed for other service use. What we anticipate is that when we reduce the loss of non-revenue water and reduce leakages, we increase our revenue collection, it will reduce the cost per head, and generally it will make it a bit more efficient than what we were having. We hope that we will get more water for the money we have been using,” he added
Mr. Clark Dai, the deputy managing director of Hangzhou Laison Technology, shared his excitement for the project, saying their smart water management system will set a standard not just for Harare but for Southern Africa as well.
“We have developed a reliable, practical, and advanced system aimed at improving efficiency and addressing the challenges of non-buried water,” he said.
Mr. Brendon Jere, chief executive officer of Helcraw Electrical, said the water plant, distribution, and billing system are part of a comprehensive plan to ensure water reaches all residents of Harare sustainably and intelligently.
