By Michael Chingarande
The Harare City council has made it a mandate to ensure that all their swimming pools are working so that Harare residents who are interested in swimming are able to access the privilege of using them.
Investigations have proved that Mount Pleasant pool which is owned by the City Council is one of the best run swimming pools in the Capital.
Mount Pleasant Pool is being run by the Triathlon Association of Zimbabwe .The association has a memorandum of understanding with the City Council which is renewed after every three years.
The Memorandum of Understanding came into being a reality during the hyper inflationary era in 2006 when the Council was having financial difficulties in running the pool.
In an interview, the President of Triathlon Zimbabwe Rick Fulton said:
“We have a Memorandum of Understanding with the City Council which is revisited after every three years.”
“It effectively gives us use of the pool from September to April as our sport is a summer sport and in return we purchase chemicals chlorine gas and H2H granules which are used at the pool as well as maintain the infrastructure and maintenance of the swimming facility,” said Fulton.
Ever since they started running the swimming pool, Triathlon Zimbabwe has managed to sink a borehole so that the swimming pool has a constant water supply which is used in refilling and cleaning the pools as well as run the toilets .
“The money paid by the public goes to the City Council it’s not a contractual obligation as we want council to generate as much revenue as possible,” said Fulton.
The association has purchased hosepipes, brushes and grass trimmers to maintain the lawn at the venue.
It also repairs broken tiles at the venue. Three years ago they completely repaired and overhauled the whole pool and purchased water pump to pump water from the borehole, right now they are currently repairing the diving hole.
“We don’t allow any other activities which don’t comply with swimming. We only allow swimming events to take place at the venue,” said Fulton.
The swimming pool also generates revenue for the council as it allows schools to pay and practice and hosts swimming galas at the venue.
Members of the community are also allowed to have access to the pool as they pay to use the pool.
Tinashe Shoniwa a fitness trainer and resident from Mount Pleasant said he was happy with the way the pool is being run.
“ I enjoy going by the swimming pool especially on Saturdays as there is always a hive of activity taking place as most of the Mount Pleasant community will be by the swimming pool so I get to meet interesting people and the environment is so serene”, said Shoniwa.
Triathlon raises funds to run the pool through fund raising activities and through corporate sponsors.
“Actually we have a budget for running the pool but the day to day running of the pool and management is done by City Authorities,” said Fulton.
The other 13 swimming pools which are being run by the City Council are all working even those in the high density areas .The swimming pools visited were Les Brown , Macdonald, Highlands, Mabelreign, Greendale, George Hartley, Arcadia, Waterfalls , Mufakose, Cranborne, Hatfield and Highfield swimming pools.
Out of the swimming pools visited by Les Brown which is in the City Centre observations showed that the swimming pool is being well run.
The security by the swimming pool is always on high alert and the life guards were on standby and the water in the swimming pool was sparkling clean and the swimming pool environment was very clean there was a school which was having a swimming practice.
Harare City Council Manager responsible for running all the city councils swimming pools in Harare Cuthbert Chakanetsa said.
“All council pools are functioning well, we decided to work with other people and corporate sponsors where these pools are located to ensure the efficient running of these swimming pools and it has worked as these pools are being run by their communities that is why they are all functioning,” said Chakanetsa.
The Harare City Council has successfully managed to make sure that this summer season all of the 13 swimming pools which are owned by them are effectively working by engaging partners such as the corporate world and residents living in communities where these swimming pools are located are involved in the running of these swimming pools while they are involved in the management of the swimming pools.
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