Seven (7) Years Without Working Sewer Plant For Chitungwiza

Chitungwiza Town Council has operated without a functioning sewer treatment plant for more than seven years, leaving thousands of residents exposed to health hazards and resulting in untreated sewage being discharged into the Hunyani River.

This is contained in the Auditor-General’s 2025 Report, which says the municipality is failing to provide an effective sewerage system as required by the Urban Councils Act.

According to the report, which is dated 31 December 2023, ageing infrastructure has continued to deteriorate due to years of underinvestment, leading to frequent sewer bursts in residential and commercial areas.

Chitungwiza Town Council management acknowledged the crisis, saying rehabilitation of 4.7 kilometres of sewer outfall lines is underway, with a contractor on site, while council teams are carrying out additional repairs covering 9.88 kilometres using donated pipes.

However, the municipality said restoring the treatment plant is beyond its financial capacity after a proposed public-private partnership failed to materialise, and it is now seeking a new partner to undertake the project.

In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Chitungwiza Municipality spokesperson Tafadzwa Kachiko confirmed that the town has now gone for more than seven years without a functioning sewer treatment plant.

“The Zengeza Sewage Treatment Works comprises a conventional treatment plant and a Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) plant. At present, both treatment plants are non-operational,” he said.

“The municipality is actively seeking investment partners to support the rehabilitation of both the water supply and sewerage infrastructure.

“The effective operation of the sewerage system is closely linked to the availability of adequate water supplies, as sufficient water flows are essential for efficient wastewater conveyance and treatment.”

The failing sewer system has also seen raw sewage being discharged into the Hunyani River, which feeds Lake Chivero, Harare’s main supply of raw water.