Enquire about or pre-register for Enlit Europe 2026 in Vienna
Laison supports key milestone in Harare water infrastructure upgrade
Partner content
For years, Harare’s water system has struggled with aging infrastructure and operational inefficiencies.
Image credit: LAISON
Frequent pipe bursts caused by old asbestos-cement pipelines, together with inaccurate metering and estimated billing, have disrupted reliable water supply and weakened the city’s ability to maintain essential services for its approximately 3.5 million residents.
To address these challenges, Harare City Council, in partnership with Helcraw Water and Laison Technology, launched an integrated programme combining infrastructure rehabilitation and smart metering deployment.
The project has now reached a key milestone. Harare City Council recently announced that all 60,000 smart water meters delivered in 2025 have been successfully installed, marking significant progress toward a more modern and data-driven water management system. At the same time, pipeline rehabilitation efforts continue to advance, with more than 100 kilometers of ageing asbestos-cement pipes already replaced with new PVC infrastructure.
The impact of the upgrades is already becoming visible in communities such as Ballantyne Park, where residents have started receiving stable municipal water supply again following the completion of network rehabilitation works.
During a recent site visit to the area, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe, Laison Chairman Raymond Zheng, and their delegation inspected the progress of the project.
Local resident Julia Brebner described the return of piped water as a “miracle,” expressing relief that the community once again has reliable access to safe and clean water.
Watch the on-site installation video here: https://youtu.be/bp7tO-kt_9k
Following the inspection, Minister Garwe commended the progress achieved, stating that the project reflects the government’s commitment to improving the reliability and efficiency of public services.
According to project plans, Harare will continue expanding the programme in the coming years. The broader initiative includes increasing the daily output capacity of Morton Jaffray Water Works from 320,000 cubic meters to 500,000 cubic meters, replacing approximately 1,000 kilometers of ageing pipeline infrastructure, and deploying more than 650,000 smart water meters alongside upgraded digital billing systems.
In an interview, Laison Technology Chairman Raymond Zheng said the company is providing a comprehensive solution that integrates smart metering, remote data management, mobile payment platforms and digital management tools to support digital water services in Harare.
The system aims to reduce reliance on estimated billing by enabling a pay-as-you-go model, improving billing accuracy, transparency, and revenue collection efficiency while supporting the long-term sustainability of municipal water services.
Through continuous innovation and data-driven service delivery, Laison is supporting Harare’s transition toward a smarter and more sustainable water management system. The collaboration also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) for clean water and sanitation, helping advance long-term water security for local communities.
