African Water Facility upgrades water and sewerage systems in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe

The African Water Facility (AWF), has funded the rehabilitation work on water and sewerage systems in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, in an initiative led by the African Ministers’ Council on Water.

A direct investment of $3m from AWF was used to rehabilitate the water supply and sewerage systems and provide about 350,000 people in the city with access to water supply and sanitation services.

It has also improved hygiene, health and social well-being of the residents in the region.

As part of the project, AWF upgraded the water system in the city to provide drinkable water, and removed sewage from the residential areas in view of the cholera epidemic, which has been plaguing the city since 2008.

The water and sewerage restoration work is expected to reduce the incidents of water-borne and other related diseases, such as typhoid and cholera.

AWF coordinator Akissa Bahri said the project was given importance to help the city recover from poor water supply and sanitation services and improve public life.

"It is hoped that the results will also contribute to building stakeholder confidence, catalysing donor resources and generating knowledge on transitional assistance in a post-conflict setting," Bahri added.

The water and sewage rehabilitation project was started in January 2012 and completed in February 2013.

AWF works towards improving the institutional capacity for efficient and sustainable operation and management of the water supply and sanitation services.

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Image: The African Water Facility has rehabilitated water and sewerage systems in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe. Photo: Courtesy of Wilfredo R. Rodriguez H.