By 
Harare, Zimbabwe – 21 March 2025 – As the world prepares to mark World Water Day on March 22, the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has issued a powerful statement highlighting the escalating water insecurity in Zimbabwe’s capital city. In a press release titled “CHRA Statement on World Water Day,” the association emphasized the critical role of glaciers and natural freshwater habitats in sustaining life, while decrying the ongoing pollution, degradation, and destruction threatening Harare’s water supply.
CHRA underscored that water, a cornerstone of life, remains elusive for many in Harare despite its importance. The association criticized proposed solutions to the city’s water crisis, arguing that they fail to address the root causes undermining freshwater ecosystems such as wetlands, lakes, rivers, and dams. “Our freshwater habitats in Harare are under threat,” the statement reads, pointing to rampant pollution and neglect by both the City of Harare and the national government.
A focal point of CHRA’s concern is Lake Chivero, a key water source for the city, where alarming pollution levels have driven up water purification costs to an estimated US$3 million. In response, the City of Harare has raised water tariffs and imposed a mandatory “special water levy” on consumers connected to municipal supplies. CHRA contends that these measures merely shift the burden onto residents rather than tackling the pollution degrading raw water quality. The local authority’s plan to install 650,000 prepaid water meters has further fueled discontent, with CHRA labeling it a step toward privatization that sidesteps the real issues.
“Wetlands recharge our rivers and streams with fresh water,” the statement notes, lamenting the “shocking and disturbing” destruction of these vital ecosystems under the watch of those tasked with protecting them. CHRA argues that the privatization agenda pursued by the City of Harare will not resolve water insecurity, as it fails to address pollution and the degradation of natural infrastructure.
In a bid to steer the conversation toward sustainable solutions, CHRA put forward a series of recommendations:
– Enforce the “polluter pays” principle outlined in Zimbabwe’s Environmental Management Act.
– Review and increase fines and penalties for water pollution to ensure they serve as a deterrent, noting that it is currently “cheaper to pollute than to comply.”
– Direct funds collected from fines toward rehabilitating natural infrastructure, including de-silting and wetland restoration, by ring-fencing them through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the City of Harare.
– Rehabilitate the city’s malfunctioning sewer reticulation system.
– Protect wetlands, which provide free ecological services such as water purification.
CHRA reiterated its commitment to advocating for sustainable solutions and good local governance, closing its statement with a resolute hashtag: #NoToWaterPrivatization.
As World Water Day approaches, the association’s call to action serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to safeguard Harare’s water resources. With freshwater habitats under siege and residents bearing the financial brunt of mismanagement, CHRA’s plea is clear: the time for superficial fixes is over. The city’s future hinges on confronting pollution head-on and preserving the natural systems that sustain it.
