‘Harare in dire straits’
KUDAKWASHE CHIBVURI
The City of Harare has plunged into severe operational and governance distress, with worsening service delivery failures prompting warnings of possible stronger central government intervention if local authorities do not urgently implement reforms, Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe has said.
Garwe said the capital, along with Chitungwiza and Bulawayo, had deteriorated to what he described as “intensive care unit” status, reflecting deepening failures in urban governance, infrastructure maintenance and basic service provision.
“Chitungwiza, Harare and Bulawayo are in the intensive care unit. And you know what happens when you are in the intensive care unit — either you sit there for five hours, or you go,” he said, adding that all local authorities have been given 14 days to “reboot” their strategies before a broader government-led turnaround programme is introduced.
The warning comes as authorities estimate that US$4.29 billion is required to restore Harare over the next five years, modernising infrastructure and aligning the city with national development and urban renewal goals.
Once known as the “Sunshine City,” Harare has failed to achieve its target of World Class City Status by 2025, with its infrastructure and service delivery systems now widely regarded as severely degraded.
Residents continue to endure persistent water shortages, deteriorating roads, raw sewage leaks and inconsistent refuse collection. Public health concerns have escalated following incidents such as the Budiriro tragedy, where three people reportedly died after falling into an open sewage trench.
The city, under Mayor Jacob Mafume, is facing sustained criticism over collapsing infrastructure and administrative inefficiencies. Key services, including water supply, waste management and transport systems, are operating well below capacity, with ageing equipment and limited resources compounding the crisis.
Council water production has reportedly declined significantly over the past decade, while refuse collection has also weakened due to a shrinking fleet and financial constraints.
Harare Residents Trust director Precious Shumba described the city as being “in a coma,” although he noted that recent administrative restructuring — including senior appointments and strengthened monitoring systems — could yield gradual improvements if effectively implemented.
“Residents across the city are crying out because service delivery continues to deteriorate,” Shumba said, rating council performance at four out of 10.
He added that while the minister’s assessment was broadly accurate, long-term recovery would require reduced central government interference and stronger institutional autonomy for councils.
Combined Harare Residents Association director Reuben Akili said the decline has been ongoing for years, pointing to sharp reductions in water production and refuse collection capacity since the mid-2010s. He said both local and central government share responsibility due to incomplete implementation of devolution reforms.
Despite the challenges, Acting Town Clerk Warren Chiwawa said the city is pursuing an ambitious transformation programme aimed at repositioning Harare as an attractive investment destination.
He said the municipality is targeting a US$4.29 billion development pipeline covering sanitation, roads, energy, transport systems, healthcare infrastructure, real estate redevelopment and industrial growth.
“We are not here to ask for philanthropic interventions. We are here to present six strategic sectors where private capital, blended finance and institutional expertise can merge seamlessly with the city’s vast municipal assets,” Chiwawa said.
He added that Harare is working with the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) to streamline investment processes and remove bureaucratic bottlenecks.
However, key municipal assets have deteriorated significantly over the years. The city’s asphalt plant is in disrepair, while Harare Quarry has been associated with allegations of corruption and financial irregularities, including missing funds.
In the health sector, council-owned facilities such as polyclinics and Wilkins Hospital require extensive rehabilitation after years of neglect and limited modernisation.
The city’s subsidiary, Rufaro Marketing, is also undergoing restructuring as it seeks to shift away from past controversies toward property-led investment.
Investigations and previous commission findings have highlighted long-standing governance weaknesses, including weak auditing systems, prolonged absence of functional financial management systems and alleged revenue leakages.
Council agricultural and livestock projects have also faced allegations of mismanagement, with reports of losses running into millions of dollars.
Harare’s water crisis remains acute despite partnerships aimed at improving supply, including an arrangement with Helcraw Private Limited that has sparked debate over the potential commercialisation of water services.
Despite significant investments in water infrastructure over the years, supply remains far below demand across Greater Harare, leaving many suburbs with intermittent or no access to running water.
Even Mayor Mafume has previously acknowledged that the scale of the crisis may exceed the capacity of current leadership, at one point calling for intervention from central government.
