$1,4m needed for construction of Gwanda reservoir

In an interview with Chronicle at his offices in Gwanda on Wednesday, the Town Clerk, Mr Gilbert Mlilo, said council was mobilising funds to finance the reservoir project.
He appealed for assistance from the Government saying council coffers were strained.
“We want to improve the water situation in the town because some of our suburbs are receiving water at very low pressure.
“We received $720 000 from Government under the Public Sector Investment Programme through the Infrastructural Development Bank of Zimbabwe for the rehabilitation of water and sewer infrastructure.
“Of this amount $400 000 was set aside for this reservoir project but it is not enough. We have done tenders and the bill of quantities and the lowest cost is $1,4 million. We therefore need more than $1 million to augment what we have,” said Mr Mlilo.
“We are engaging the Government to give us more to complete the project and improve water supply to the residents especially in the high density suburbs. We will also embark on other fund-raising methods such as Public Private Partnerships.”
He said the reservoir, with a capacity of five megalitres or five million litres of water, would be constructed on top of Spitzkop Hill.
Gwanda town draws the bulk of its water from Blanket Dam, which is 80 percent full.
Mr Mlilo said Sheet Dam, which also supplies the town, was heavily silted. He suggested that the Government funds construction of a pipeline from Mtshabezi Dam as a long-term plan for improved water supply to Gwanda.