Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has reaffirmed the safety of the city’s tap water, addressing public unease and regulatory pressure over water quality and sanitation standards.
Mafume’s comments came after he appeared before the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC), where he was asked to answer to complaints related to environmental issues, deteriorating sewer systems, and concerns over residents’ access to clean and safe water.
In a statement to The Herald after the hearing, Mafume sought to ease concerns about possible contamination, asserting that the municipality maintains high water quality standards.
“We discussed various matters with the Commission, particularly the challenges of water supply in Harare. I emphasized that our water meets safety standards,” he said.
According to the Mayor, water produced at the Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant undergoes rigorous and regular testing.
“We follow ISO standards for water testing. Samples are taken every 30 minutes at Morton Jaffray, and our results are cross-verified by City Health and independent laboratories,” Mafume explained.
He stressed that providing clean water is crucial in preventing the spread of waterborne diseases.
“We made it clear to the Commission and the public that the city’s water is safe to drink and plays a critical role in protecting residents from disease,” he stated.
Mafume also raised questions about the bottled water industry, suggesting that many companies are merely filtering and repackaging municipal water.
“A lot of bottled water on the market is just Harare tap water that has been filtered again,” he said.
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