An assessment of private sector participation as a viable alternative for improved urban water provision in Zimbabwe : the case of Harare Municipality

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study gives an analysis of urban water services provision in Zimbabwe in general. The case study of Harare Municipality was used to get an in-depth analysis of urban water provision in an urban set-up and assess the possibility of private sector engagement for water provision. The engagement of the private sector through Public- Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the provision of public services has become a common practice in many countries. The overall benefits noted for the use of these partnerships include increased effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery. The private sector has been favoured for the provision of services, given the financial and expertise benefits that it brings into public service delivery. Water services delivery in many countries in Africa has been dogged by a plethora of problems that include, water losses, poor revenue collection, lack of cost recovery, inadequate financial investment to expand water infrastructure and overall inability to meet demand resulting from urban expansion. Given these challenges, PPPs provide an option for service delivery. These partnerships have been in the form of leases, management and service contracts, as well as concessions for the provision of public services.Private sector participation (PSP) in service delivery in different forms is rooted in various theoretical ideologies that include New Public Management (NPM), Public Value, New Governance and Network Governance. The reduction of the role of government in the provision of public services; the adoption of private sector management style; the use of networks in service provision and participation of the stakeholders are key principles in these theoretical ideologies. These principles have thus been adopted through public sector reforms for service delivery.Case studies from Senegal, Kenya, South Africa and Tanzania are applied in this study, to take note of key lessons on the engagement of the private sector for provision of urban water services, as well as the key determinants of successful partnerships. The institutional and legal framework of reforms undertaken in these countries are analysed as part of the enabling environment for successful partnerships. Data collection for this study was done through key informant interviews, covering water administration issues, water provision challenges and private sector engagement in Harare.The obsolete water infrastructure and inadequate financial levels have affected water provision and coverage in Harare. Unaccounted for water was found to be above 30 percent for the City of Harare, whilst water production levels are much lower than demand. Attempts at engaging the private sector for improving water provision through a concession for the Kunzvi Dam Project have not gone beyond the signing of the contract. What is clear is that there is a lack of a regulatory framework; political willingness, lack of trust, economic uncertainty, lack of financial sustainability and a performance monitoring framework. These are key factors in ensuring a viable public- private arrangement. For private sector involvement to be successful, in the context of this study, the recommendations include the need for a regulatory framework for PPPs in Zimbabwe, establishment of a regulator through policy, political willingness and transparency.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University