Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume Defends City Water Quality After Human Rights Commission Appearance
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume has declared that tap water supplied by the municipality is safe to drink.
This comes amid growing public concerns over its quality and increased scrutiny from authorities over environmental and public health standards.
Officials Appear Before Rights Commission
Mafume made the remarks after he appeared before the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC).
The trio had been subpoenaed last month to respond to allegations of violations of environmental rights, poor sewer infrastructure, and potential breaches of residents’ rights to clean water.
Water Tested Regularly
Speaking to The Herald, after the closed-door session, Mafume sought to allay fears about contamination and disease. He stated that Harare water quality is up to standard.
“We were at the Commission discussing issues related to the supply of Harare water and the challenges thereof.
We addressed the water quality. Harare water quality is up to standard,” he said.
Mafume emphasised that the City tests water rigorously at Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant.
“It is tested according to organisational standards by ISO. We also test our water at Morton Jaffray at 30-minute intervals, and it is also tested by City Health and other independent laboratories,” he explained.
Water Quality Central to Public Health
The Mayor assured that the water is safe to drink.
He stressed that the treated municipal supply is an essential defense against outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
“We assured the Commission and the public at large that Harare water is safe to drink and is the difference between us and diseases,” he said.
Bottled Water “Just Filtered Municipal Water”
Mafume also claimed that many bottled water vendors simply repackage municipal water.
“In fact, many of the people who sell bottled water simply sell Harare water that they filter again,” he added.
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The post “Harare Water is Safe to Drink”: Mayor Jacob Mafume Defends City Water Quality After Human Rights Commission Appearance appeared first on iHarare News.
