Several suburbs in Harare and Chitungwiza are facing a deepening water crisis, leaving residents without running water for months. The prolonged shortage has forced thousands of people to rely on unregulated and potentially unsafe water sources, raising serious concerns about a looming public health disaster.In affected suburbs such as Mbare, Budiriro, and Highfield in Harare, as well as most parts of Chitungwiza, the taps have long run dry. The result has been a scramble for water, with residents turning to makeshift solutions like untested boreholes, shallow wells, and buying water from street vendors. Tanker trucks, or “bousers,” now roam the streets, selling water of questionable origin at steep prices.“The water we’re buying from these trucks is not safe, but what can we do?” says John Chari, a resident of Chitungwiza. “We have children who need water to drink, we need it to cook, to clean. The city has completely failed us.”The situation has worsened as many local wells and boreholes have dried up, leaving residents with even fewer options. The few boreholes that remain functional are overwhelmed, serving hundreds of families who wait in long lines every day. These boreholes are often shared by entire neighborhoods, and many fear that they too will soon dry up due to overuse.Residents are calling on the city council to step in and bring relief. Instead of leaving water delivery to unregulated private vendors, they argue that the council should be organizing tanker trucks to supply safe, treated water to affected suburbs during the crisis. The failure of the council to take charge of water distribution has not only deepened frustrations but also exposed communities to health risks.The health dangers are clear. Cases of cholera and typhoid, both waterborne diseases linked to poor sanitation and contaminated water, have been a persistent threat in Zimbabwe. The current crisis has increased fears of widespread outbreaks, as many of the unregulated water sources are likely contaminated. Health experts warn that without immediate intervention, the situation could spiral into an epidemic.Residents accuse the city council of inaction and neglect, as attempts to fix the situation have been minimal. Promised upgrades to water treatment plants and distribution lines have been slow to materialize, leaving communities in crisis.Meanwhile, the desperation in the suburbs has led to a rise in informal water markets. Unscrupulous vendors, taking advantage of the shortage, are selling water from unverified sources, leading to public outrage. Despite warnings from health officials, the lack of affordable and reliable alternatives forces residents to continue buying this water.In some cases, the water being sold comes from untreated boreholes or wells dug by individuals looking to cash in on the crisis. “We don’t know where this water comes from, but if we don’t buy it, we have nothing,” says Miriam Tashaya, a mother of three in Mbare. “The city can’t provide for us, so we are forced to take this risk.”As the water crisis persists, residents are left to fend for themselves, with little hope of immediate relief. The sight of people carrying buckets to collect water from dubious sources has become an everyday reality in many of these suburbs, a stark reminder of how basic city services can leave lives hanging in the balance. The water crisis has turned into more than an inconvenience—it is now a matter of survival. Residents continue to demand action, urging the council to step up and provide reliable water supplies during these critical times.
