HARARE, 8 August 2008 (IRIN) - Another diarrhoea outbreak in the middle-class suburbs of Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, is leading to growing calls for water treatment to revert to local authorities, after a decree a few years ago gave central government the responsibility.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has made Zimbabwe's urban areas bastions of support in the past few years, and it was this shift in political loyalties that led President Robert Mugabe's government to create the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), which took away bulk water treatment and distribution from city councils.

Critics of the policy maintain that control of water treatment and awarding contracts for the supply of chemicals provides lucrative kickbacks for the politically connected.

ZINWA's track record is widely viewed as disastrous, even by The Herald, the government-controlled daily newspaper. "Today, as we fast approach a decade of ZINWA's existence, the plans [for service delivery] remain in boardrooms and all the nation gets are frequent updates of the challenges facing the authority," said an editorial this week.

"Today, water shortages persist, and if everyone is to be honest with themselves, ZINWA is merely giving the same excuses for non-delivery that local authorities gave when they failed to fulfil their statutory responsibilities," the paper said.

Under ZINWA's tenure raw sewerage has been discharged into Lake Chivero, Harare's main reservoir, while raw sewerage routinely overflows into township streets. The capital has experienced several outbreaks of cholera, dysentery and diarrhoea in the last few years. The water authority claims the lack of foreign exchange makes it unable to undertake routine repairs and maintenance.

The outbreak of waterborne diseases has also been exacerbated by the failure of ZANU-PF appointed commissioners to ensure refuse collection. Harare's city health services director, Stanley Mungofa, announced this week that the eastern parts of the capital had been hit by another diarrhoea outbreak, but did not provide statistics.

"The city is currently experiencing pockets of high incidence of diarrhoeal diseases which could be attributed to the current water crisis, but no deaths have been recorded," Mungofa told the Herald.

"Water shortages in homes, schools, churches, beerhalls and other public places are of grave concern to the city, as the hygiene in those places and the health of people is severely compromised," he said.

Harare's recently elected non-executive mayor, Muchadeyi Masunda, said reclaiming bulk water treatment and distribution from the government was a priority.

"Quality water provision is one of the items topping my agenda. Indications are that all is not well at ZINWA in terms of meeting their mandate of providing quality water."

Farai Mangodza, chief executive officer of the Combined Harare Residents Association, said the residents had "consistently called upon the government to reverse the ZINWA takeover and return the responsibility to manage water supply to the city council."

"We condemn the government for failing to appreciate that the residents are suffering as a result of its arrogant decision to manage water supply," he said.

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