Staff reporter

Residents of Harare's Hopley suburb are facing a growing health crisis as the prolonged water shortages force them to resort to unsafe water sources.

With the Harare City Council failing to provide reliable access to potable water, many locals have turned to unprotected wells in a nearby cemetery, raising serious concerns about the health and safety of the community.

Hopley resident Keith Chuma stressed the severity of the ongoing water crisis, which has led to urgent appeals for immediate action.

"We are forced to buy water from people who claim to own wells here at the cemetery. If you don't have money, you have to fetch 16 buckets of water for them first and water their garden, then you fetch just one bucket for yourself.

"We walk about 6 kilometers to fetch water for drinking and laundry at the graveyard because there are open wells here," lamented Chuma.

Another concerned resident, Mirriam Ushe highlighted that many residents have resorted to using contaminated water due to the unaffordable cost of purchasing clean water daily.

"We come here as early as 2 a.m. to get water before the wells deplete. The situation has exposed us to harassment, and our children are suffering the most since we can't afford chemicals to treat the water," explained Ushe.

Another resident, Taurai Dende emphasized that the lack of sustainable water supply has also created a burgeoning market for individuals selling water from open wells.

"This water is my source of income and we are capitalizing on the crisis by selling water for a dollar per person. I dug this well specifically to sell water, and even at my home, we sell water from our well and borehole," he stated.

In response, the HCC has announced plans to deploy water bowsers to the area, citing disruptions in water supply caused by the ongoing construction of the Mbudzi Interchange.

"Water supplies to most parts of Hopley were affected during construction, but we hope to replace the pipes soon," the council stated.

As the crisis deepens, residents continue to demand swift action from authorities to prevent further health risks to alleviate the hardships caused by the persistent water shortages.