Embattled Harare City Council has completely shut down its head office in the city centre, Rowan Martin Building, citing water shortages over the past two weeks, ZW News can exclusively reveal.

Ironically Harare which has the sole mandate to provide water in the city and surrounding towns said it was incapacitated to provide the precious liquid a situation that exposes workers to water borne diseases.

This publication is in possession of an official letter announcing the closure signed by Harare’s acting human resources director retired major Matthew Marara directed to town clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango.

“This serves to advice your office that Roman Martin Building has been closed with immediate effect.

“The building has been without running water for close to two weeks now thereby exposing our employees and stakeholders to water borne diseases such as dysentery, diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid,” reads the letter.

According to the letter lack of portable water was in contravention of local and regional statutes.

“The failure to provide portable, wholesome or clean safe water is in contravention of the Factories and Works act chapter 14:08 RGN 263. Provision of safe water at workplaces and Public Health Act 15:09 water and sanitation,” reads the letter.