Harare City has one bowser – Official

Leroy Dzenga

City of Harare is ill-equipped to mitigate the current water crisis as it only has one bowser in its inventory.

The startling revelation was made at a special council meeting in the capital on Monday, which was convened in response to the acute water shortages in the city.

Harare Water Acting Director Engineer Mabhena Moyo, told councillors that there was need to procure bowsers urgently to service areas under stress.

“We currently have one bowser and that is not enough to cover areas that need water in Harare,” Engineer Mabhena said.

Harare Town Clerk Hosiah Chisango said council is working on a plan to respond to the shortage.

“As a response to the current situation we find ourselves in, we want to buy 12 bowsers to help areas under stress,” Engineer Chisango said.

Harare is officially home to about 1,4 million residents (although it is suggested that the number has now doubled) and is facing a water crisis due to the current drought as well as lack of infrastructural capacity.

Water rationing has since been instituted with council supplying water to households for just two or three times a week.