The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), Zimbabwe has sought out the help from the High Court to help convince the water corporation to supply the residents with clean water for the 21 days lockdown announced by the government to help manage the spread of the COVID 19 virus.
About two weeks ago, the residents protested over the enormous hike in the rates of the water bill and threatened to take the local government to the High Court. The Harare authorities increased the water charges by 400 per cent, and sewer charges were increased by 300 per cent.
For over 10 years now, the Zimbabwe economy has been struggling with hyperinflation. From 2009 the inflation rate in the country was at 30.69 per cent, until the 2019 fourth quarterly report when the country saw a massive surge in the inflation rate of 540.16 per cent.
Many Zimbabweans living and working in the country cannot afford to pay for basic essentials with a massive increase in the price of goods and services.
Due to the COVID 19 virus outbreak, many businesses have been temporarily closed down, stock prices have fallen leaving many unemployed.
Plus the Zimbabwean government imposed a 21 days lockdown because of the increase in the confirmed cases of the COVID 19 virus in the country. Many would not be able to survive the lockdown if their water supply and other utilities are cut off.
So far, Zimbabwe has confirmed five cases of the COVID 19 virus and one death.
