African Water Digest

Global Gender Summit 2019: Experts enthuse parity in energy sector to combat climate change
The 2019 Global Gender Summit commenced on Monday, November 25 in Rwanda's capital, Kigali with a strong call to surge ahead on gender issues and move from commitment to action. Experts on energy issues pleaded on November 26 for gender parity in energy-related sectors with an objective to effectively fight climate change. "Women are vulnerable in many African countries, particularly in the water and energy sector. Read more

Zimbabwe: Water Charges to Go Up Four-Fold
Harare City Council's budget proposals delivered last night will see the average bill for high-density householders rise to $225 a month. In the budget, council quadrupled water charges, raised sewer charges between 2.4-fold and 3-fold, doubled rents for council property, but kept clinic consultation fees at 2019 levels. An average low-density property holder will pay almost $700 a month. Read more

Ghana: Water Supply from Daboase Treatment Plant to Resume Soon
Full production of water from the Daboase treatment plant resumes soon, as Ghana Water Company Limited engineers replace the damaged transformer which created water shortages in Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis and beyond.  Engineers over the weekend began working on the new transformer and would soon be completed for water supply to be restored to customers in Sekondi-Takoradi. Read more

Zimbabwe: $9,3m Boost for Harare Water
Cabinet has directed Treasury to release US$9,3 million for urgent works at Manyame and Warren Control Pump stations that should be completed in two months to alleviate potable water shortages in Harare and its surrounding towns. This will enable the City of Harare to migrate from drawing water the from the highly polluted Lake Chivero to Lake Manyame. Read more

Uganda: Water Shortage Hits Mbale As Floods Destroy Pipelines
An acute water shortage has hit Mbale Municipality for the past three days following floods, which damaged the National Water and Sewage Cooperation (NWSC) water pipelines. Mr. Solomon Efearael, the plant superintendent of NWSC in Mbale, confirmed on Monday that there was no water supply to the area. Read more

South Africa: Four Working Toilets for 500 Families
Silver Town informal settlement in East London's Mdantsane has only ten toilets for 500 families, say community leaders - and six of them are blocked. ANC ward councilor Mashwabada Gcilishe blames residents for the blockage of toilets. He says residents run their own pipes to take water from the pipes running to the toilets, to install standpipes in their own yards. Read more

Tunisia: sustainable tourism charter established
A sustainable tourism charter has been established for Tunisia in an effort to improve the environment. Almost 600,000 tons of plastic is dumped into the Mediterranean every year costing the Tunisian economy $20 million due to the impact on tourism, fishing and navigation, according to WWF, the Worldwide Fund for Nature. Read more