Harare’s enduring water crisis is spiralling further out of control, now compounded by increasing demand from neighbouring towns such as Chitungwiza, Ruwa, and Epworth. These satellite towns, all experiencing rapid population growth, continue to rely heavily on the capital’s overstretched water infrastructure, raising serious concerns about the sustainability of the region’s entire water supply system.
This alarming trend is detailed in the newly adopted Harare Master Plan (2025–2045), which paints a sobering picture of a city buckling under both internal strain and external pressure. The document calls for urgent, coordinated action, emphasising the need for independent water systems for satellite towns and greater regional planning to ease the burden on Harare’s fragile infrastructure.
“Harare’s dominance as the capital creates structural dependence from surrounding local authorities,” the master plan notes. “More than half the population of these areas spend their day in City, further pressuring resources.”
The capital, already plagued by erratic water supply, decaying infrastructure, and periodic rationing, continues to depend primarily on Lake Chivero. But the lake, heavily polluted and silted due to years of poor environmental management and recurring droughts, is no longer a reliable lifeline for Harare’s growing population.
In a bid to diversify sources and increase capacity, the city has turned to Lake Manyame, while working to upgrade its Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Works. However, these efforts have yet to make a significant impact on improving overall supply reliability.
Meanwhile, despite being located near both Harava and Prince Edward Dams, Chitungwiza—a densely populated dormitory town—still relies on water pumped from Harare. The lack of its own water treatment and delivery infrastructure has made the town especially vulnerable to the capital’s supply shocks.
In recognition of this growing regional dependency, the government has proposed several infrastructure projects aimed at improving water access across the metropolitan area. These include the long-delayed construction of Muda Dam, and a 26-kilometre pipeline connecting Muchekeranwa Dam to Wenimbi Dam, which is expected to provide alternative water sources for both Harare and its neighbouring municipalities. Additional plans are also underway to utilise Harava Dam more effectively to serve towns like Ruwa and Chitungwiza.
Harare’s Water Crisis Worsens as Neighbouring Towns Strain Supply System
However, the master plan issues a stark warning: Harare’s water system was never designed to support the population it now serves. Unregulated peri-urban expansion and the unchecked growth of informal settlements have put immense strain on existing infrastructure, which has not kept pace with demand.
In light of these challenges, authorities in neighbouring towns are beginning to explore independent water sourcing strategies. The goal is to build self-sufficient systems that reduce dependency on Harare and ensure more stable water access for their residents.
“By securing their own raw water supplies, these towns aim for self-sufficiency and a reduction in reliance on Harare,” the plan states. However, it also stresses that regional collaboration in infrastructure planning and governance would reduce costs and ensure long-term sustainability.
Speaking to this publication, Alice Kuvheya, director of the Chitungwiza Residents Trust, voiced frustration over the town’s chronic water shortages and called for a united front among local authorities to demand meaningful intervention from central government.
“Chitungwiza has over half a million residents, but no independent water source,” Kuvheya said. “For 11 years, we have begged government to act. Harare should not blame us. They should join us in demanding action from central government.”
She dismissed any attempts to pit Harare against its neighbours, saying that the crisis calls for solidarity rather than division.
“The water from Harare is not even enough for us. Instead of pointing fingers, we must unite to pressure the President and central government to provide sustainable solutions,” she added.
The Harare Master Plan is clear in its conclusion: without urgent and coordinated intervention, water insecurity in Harare and its surrounding towns will only worsen. Joint infrastructural development, improved resource governance, and investment in alternative supply systems are not optional—they are necessary for the survival and development of the entire metropolitan region.
As climate variability continues to impact rainfall and drought patterns, the need to future-proof water supply through diversified sourcing, conservation, and modernisation has never been more critical. For now, however, millions of residents across Harare and its satellite towns remain at the mercy of a system teetering on the edge of collapse.
