Harare Going Dry

Zimbabwe’s capital Harare (the former Salisbury) is experiencing severe water shortages, since authorities are no longer able to provide sufficient pumping capacity or pay for enough chemicals to adequately purify the water: the nation is experiencing severe fuel shortages and the middlemen who sell the water purifier will only accept foreign currency, which is short supply. On Tuesday the city’s director of works, Psychology Chiwanga, described the situation as desperate. Reports from Harare describe the city as “falling apart,” with traffic lights at major intersections out for months and downtown streets reverting to dirt roads. Zimbabwe’s current problems date from the destruction of its export economy following the seizure of its prosperous, white-owned farms.

http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?id=26987&pubdate=2003-11-28
http://allafrica.com/stories/200311210870.html