Marondera Needs US$20 Million to Tackle Critical Water Shortages

Marondera, a town facing a critical water shortage, is in urgent need of over US$20 million to overhaul its dilapidated water infrastructure. The current system, a relic of the pre-independence era, was designed to serve a mere 20,000 people. Today, with a population exceeding 120,000 and continuing to grow, the strain on these outdated facilities is immense, leading to erratic water supply across the municipality.

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In 1975 the population of Marondera was circa 18k; this is when the current water treatment plant was built. The plant was meant to cater for a population of about 20k people. Ever since then it has never been expanded; the population of Marondera is now about 120k and growing.

Caston Matewu, the Member of Parliament for Marondera Central, has highlighted the dire situation, emphasizing that the existing water treatment plant has not been expanded since its construction in 1975. To adequately serve the current population and future growth, the plant needs expansion to cater for approximately 150,000 people, alongside crucial upgrades to underground piping and sewerage systems. The estimated cost for this comprehensive revamp is pegged at US$20 million.

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What is needed now is the expansion of the water treatment plant to cater for about 150k people and the requisite infrastructure, i.e. underground piping, sewerage, and so on. The current master plan estimates the cost at US$20 million.

Matewu is actively seeking investors willing to finance the project through Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) arrangements or as part of land deals. This initiative reflects a broader challenge faced by municipalities across Zimbabwe, where basic service delivery, including water, is severely lacking. The proliferation of boreholes in urban areas, while providing a temporary reprieve, underscores the depth of the deficit.

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This is what Marondera Municipality requires to get the job done; they are currently looking for investors who are willing to finance on BOT arrangements or as part of a land deal. If anyone is interested, I can direct you to the relevant authorities

While acknowledging the public's concern about the installation of solarized boreholes, Matewu defends them as a necessary stop-gap measure. He clarifies that providing water is the responsibility of local authorities, but he is stepping in to mitigate the immediate crisis. His hope, and that of the residents, is for a swift return to reliable tap water delivery. This situation in Marondera is a stark reminder of the infrastructure challenges confronting many Zimbabwean towns, a reality often overlooked in international reporting that may not fully grasp the daily impact of such basic service failures on citizens.

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I have seen many comments from people complaining why we are putting solarised boreholes in our towns; they are right to be worried, but it is the best solution for now.