Harare water crisis ‘artificial’, corrupt officials blocking chemical payments – residents organisation says

The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) has accused corrupt procurement officials at the Harare City Council of deliberately blocking payments to suppliers of water treatment chemicals, creating what it describes as an “artificial” water crisis in the capital.

In a statement issued Tuesday, HRT director Precious Shumba said the city urgently requires US$11,400,577 to procure water purification chemicals, yet officials have allegedly failed to release funds to four companies that were awarded supply tenders.

“The water crisis in Harare is artificial. Corrupt procurement officials are allegedly not processing the procurement of water treatment chemicals despite their approval on January 22, 2026.

“Many suburbs in Harare have no water. However, procurement bureaucrats in the city of Harare are reportedly delaying the release of funds, in what those well-informed claim is a deliberate ploy to extract money from the four companies awarded the tender to supply the water treatment chemicals,” Shumba said.

According to HRT, the companies awarded contracts include Industrial Products Solutions P/L, which was expected to supply 681,750 kilograms of calcium hypochloride granules (HTH), and Stochack Trading t/a Eurostar Electric Co, which was contracted to deliver 624,400 kilograms of sodium silicate.

The other suppliers are Contact P/L, tasked with delivering 3,443,250 kilograms of white hydrated lime, and A.I. Davis and Co, which was contracted to supply 90,650 kilograms of anhydrous ammonia.

HRT alleged that none of the chemicals have been delivered to date due to payment delays.

The allegations come as many suburbs across Harare continue to experience prolonged water shortages, forcing residents to rely on boreholes and other alternative sources.

Recently, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the city is owed billions of dollars in unpaid bills by residents, a situation he warned was severely affecting the municipality’s ability to deliver essential services, including water provision.