Research findings : revisiting water utility subsidy in the city of Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study is theoretically grounded on the human rights approach to development which perceives the state as constitutionally obligated to protect its citizens. Most municipalities in Zimbabwe receive inadequate subsidy from the government hence their inability to provide basic services such as water. The study unveiled household water challenges experienced by residents of Harare. The results of the study highlighted that poor subsidy from government stimulated resource use inefficiencies and financially weak utilities which affect efforts to improve household water service. The study employed focus group interviews, observation and document analysis to establish the factors contributing to the poor household water service delivery system in Harare. What is new in this study is the rights based approach used to provide solutions to a confluence of factors contributing to poor service delivery in Harare. This study makes a substantive contribution towards thinking on key facets of the debate especially the distributional impact of subsidies for urban household water supply.