Harare proposes US$623m for sewer, waste upgrades

Remember Deketeke

Municipal Correspondent

HARARE’S proposed 2025-2045 Master Plan has proposed an estimated US$623,49 million investment in wastewater and solid waste management infrastructure to address sewage pollution, unreliable refuse collection and growing pressure on the capital’s sanitation systems.

The investment comes as Harare and neighbouring Chitungwiza continue to face serious sewage management challenges, with untreated wastewater polluting rivers that feed into Lake Chivero, the capital’s major water source.

In April 2025, the Environmental Management Agency reported that Harare was discharging more than 250 million litres of untreated sewage daily into the lake.

The proposed investment will cover upgrades to existing wastewater treatment plants, construction of new sewer outfalls, pumping stations and expansion of trunk sewer infrastructure, alongside modern waste management facilities.

Budiriro, Hatcliffe, Caledonia and Hopley are among the high-growth peri-urban areas earmarked for interventions to improve sanitation services.

“Preliminary investment costs are estimated at US$623 490 000 and include upgrades to existing wastewater treatment plants, construction of new sewer outfalls, pumping stations, and expansion of trunk sewer infrastructure,” read the document.

The master plan identifies overloaded or dysfunctional wastewater treatment plants as a major challenge, resulting in raw sewage entering rivers and communities.

“Many of the existing plants are overloaded or dysfunctional, resulting in raw sewage entering rivers and communities,” reads the document.

The proposed upgrades are expected to improve public health, reduce pollution and create opportunities for reusing treated wastewater in agriculture and industry.

The plan also proposes replacing ageing sewer pipes, expanding sewer outfalls and improving pumping stations to address frequent bursts and overflows.

“These projects aim to restore and extend the city’s sewer infrastructure,” the document states.

On solid waste management, the city proposes additional collection vehicles, skip bins and neighbourhood transfer points to improve refuse collection and reduce illegal dumping.

The plan identifies “delayed pickups, scattered illegal dumps, and under-serviced suburbs” as challenges requiring urgent intervention.

One existing initiative is the partnership between Harare City Council and Geo Pomona Waste Management, which took over operations at Pomona in April 2022 under a joint venture concession.

The partnership has introduced infrastructure improvements at the dumpsite, including access roads, controlled disposal areas, security installations and a weighbridge.

A dedicated hazardous waste disposal facility has also been developed as part of efforts to improve waste handling.

The master plan notes that further investment remains necessary, particularly as Pomona faces capacity pressures and the city seeks to expand recycling and resource recovery.

“With Pomona landfill nearing capacity and little recycling infrastructure in place, the city needs to shift toward engineered landfills and material recovery facilities,” reads the document.

The proposed interventions are grouped into four areas: wastewater treatment and reuse, sewer network expansion and rehabilitation, solid waste collection and transfer, and disposal, recycling and recovery.

The plan seeks to improve sanitation services while supporting Harare’s projected urban growth over the next two decades.

Implementation will depend on securing the required funding and ensuring sustained investment in infrastructure maintenance and service delivery.

Source: Harare proposes US$623m for sewer, waste upgrades – herald

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