Marondera municipality has announced that it needs more than US$20 million to upgrade its water‑reticulation system and meet the needs of a rapidly expanding population. The town’s existing water‑treatment plant, built in 1975 to serve roughly 20 000 residents, now supplies a community of about 120 000 people, a figure that is projected to rise further.
In a post on the micro‑blogging platform X, Caston Matewu, the Member of Parliament for Marondera Central, explained that the plant has never been expanded since its construction. “The current infrastructure was designed for a population of about 20 000. To accommodate roughly 150 000 residents we need to enlarge the treatment plant and install new underground pipelines, sewerage networks and related works,” he said.
The municipality’s master plan estimates the total cost of the upgrade at US$20 million. Matewu said the council is seeking investors willing to finance the project through build‑operate‑transfer (BOT) arrangements or as part of a land‑deal partnership. “If anyone is interested, I can direct you to the relevant authorities,” he added.
Marondera’s water challenges reflect a broader trend across Zimbabwe, where many urban centres struggle to provide reliable piped water. In response, local authorities have increasingly turned to borehole installations, often equipped with solar‑powered pumps, as a temporary measure. Matewu acknowledged community concerns about the reliance on boreholes but defended the approach as a stop‑gap solution.
“The role of an MP is not to supply water directly; that responsibility lies with local authorities that collect rates from residents,” he said. “Providing solarised boreholes in suburbs helps people access clean water while we work toward restoring full tap service.” Residents near the newly installed boreholes have expressed gratitude, and the MP emphasized that the ultimate goal remains universal tap water coverage.
The funding gap and the urgency of the upgrade have placed pressure on municipal officials to secure private‑sector participation quickly. Successful financing would enable the expansion of the treatment plant, the laying of new distribution lines, and the integration of sewerage infrastructure, thereby improving service reliability for Marondera’s growing population.
As the municipality pursues investment partners, the situation underscores the critical need for sustainable water‑infrastructure development in Zimbabwe’s urban areas, where population growth outpaces the capacity of legacy systems.
