Harare — GOVERNMENT will soon embark on the rehabilitation and upgrading of water and sewage plants in the country's main cities and towns to meet demands of the growing urban population.

Local Government, Urban and Rural Development Minister Ignatius Chombo said the programme would see equipment at Harare's Firle, Crowborough and Zengeza sewage plants being replaced.

"The critical mass of the plant and equipment has been installed and in use for over 25 years.

"In essence, such equipment has exceeded its value, but local authorities and in some cases Zinwa, has failed to secure requisite foreign currency requirements."

He said the city's sewer and water distribution network was now characterised by massive leaks that had resulted in the loss of 45 percent of treated water thereby exposing residents to potential water-borne diseases.

"Consistent with the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme and in keeping with the letter and spirit of the Local Authorities Revitalisation Strategy . . . local authorities have conducted a rapid assessment exercise so as to establish the quick-win high impact intervention areas in the water and sewage sector."

He said some local authorities such as Harare, where US$20 million had been made available through the fiscus for the rehabilitation of water and sewerage infrastructure, had started benefiting from the programme.

"Within the same funding, an allocation has also been set aside for the installation of a dedicated power line to augment energy supplies to the Morton Jaffray Pumping Station," he said. Minister Chombo said Government and local authorities might not have the necessary human and financial capital to drive the water and sewer upgrading agenda hence the need for public-private-partnership.

"A national framework for the PPPs has been established and potential investors are invited to come forward and contribute to the enhancement of the water and sanitation sectors," Minister Chombo said.

He said the established framework guaranteed a viable equity split between and among the partners.

Minister Chombo urged local authorities to operate water systems that would enjoy some measure of autonomy to enable them to do joint ventures that promoted effective and efficient management of water and sewerage.

Government is currently working on such projects as Kunzvi Dam project to ensure adequate water supplies for Harare where partnerships are being sought for possible funding for joint ventures under the Build, Operate Transfer or Build Own Operate Transfer arrangements.