Zimbabwe: Only 20 out of 63 sewage treatment plants are operational, Parliament warns

In Zimbabwe, only 20 of the country's 63 sewage treatment plants are still operational, according to a report by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environment, Climate and Wildlife released in September 2026 and reported by NewZimbabwe and allAfrica on September 25. Members of Parliament are calling on the president to declare a state of emergency by December 31, 2026.

Wastewater in the capital's water supply

The report focuses on pollution hotspots in Harare and Chitungwiza. According to NewZimbabwe, the Amalinda Crossing site discharges approximately 80 megaliters of raw sewage every day into the Mukuvisi River, which flows into Lake Chivero, the main source of drinking water for Harare. Nationwide, the plants that are still active are reportedly discharging some 570 megaliters of untreated effluent per day.

The Firle plant, the largest in the capital, treats only 54 megaliters per day out of a planned capacity of 144, while the Crowborough plant is completely shut down. The Budiriro pumping station, out of service since 2014, causes overflows into the Marimba River. Repairs at Amalinda Crossing are not expected until June 2027.

A lake in distress

The measurements cited by the committee are alarming: the dissolved oxygen level in the waterways has reached 51.2%, below the healthy threshold of 60%, and the biological oxygen demand is about four times higher than the permitted limit. Excess phosphates are blamed for the death of fish and the proliferation of water hyacinth on Lake Chivero.

The specter of cholera

The parliamentarians draw a direct link between the collapse of this infrastructure and the risk of waterborne disease outbreaks. They recall the 2008-2009 cholera epidemic, which resulted in approximately 4,200 deaths and 98,000 cases. Invoking the environmental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, the committee believes the situation justifies exceptional measures.

The report does not mention a detailed response from the municipality. For the residents of Harare, access to clean water remains a daily struggle and a test of the authorities' ability to be held accountable.