Harare Council Blames Pipe Bursts For Borrowdale’s Long Water Dry Spell

After nearly two decades of dry taps, parts of Borrowdale are finally seeing water flow again, but the Harare City Council says years of neglect, ageing infrastructure, and persistent pipe bursts are to blame for the prolonged crisis.

By Advent Shoko

Residents in Rolf Valley and sections of Ballantyne Park, once synonymous with chronic water shortages, are now experiencing gradual relief as a public-private partnership between council and Helcraw Water Private Limited begins to show results.

At the centre of the recovery plan is a sweeping infrastructure overhaul, replacing old pipes, fixing leaks, and rolling out smart water meters to regulate consumption and improve billing efficiency.

Council’s Corporate Communications Manager, Stanley Gama, acknowledged the scale of the problem, stating:

“We face some challenges with water supply due to pipe bursts and ageing infrastructure, but efforts are underway to address these issues.”

He added that the partnership with Helcraw marks a turning point:

“With the coming in of Helcraw, we are on upward trajectory in terms of water production and distribution. Together with Helcraw, we want to make sure that the whole value chain is attended to for the benefit of residents.”

A critical component of the strategy is the rehabilitation of the Morton Jaffray Water Plant, where authorities are targeting production of up to 520 megalitres per day, a benchmark seen as vital for stabilising supply across the capital.

Gama stressed that fixing infrastructure alone is not enough.

“We are simply saying that water production has to improve, old pipes have to be replaced and smart water meters have to be installed to make sure residents pay for only what they use.”

So far, over 45,000 smart meters have been installed, a move council says is already reducing wastage and easing pressure on supply systems.

For residents, the return of water signals cautious optimism. But for authorities, it is also a reminder of years of systemic failure, and the urgent need to sustain momentum before history repeats itself.