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Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter—
THE African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $34.93 million loan for Bulawayo water and sewerage infrastructure projects. The funding — approved this week — is expected to improve the city’s health services and social well-being of residents. AfDB said in a statement that Bulawayo, like many urban centres in Zimbabwe, has been affected by years of inadequate financing for maintenance of its water and sewerage infrastructure due to the prevailing economic challenges. “The board has approved $34.93 million for Bulawayo’s water and sewerage services improvement project . . .” said AfDB.
“The project, to be implemented in 48 months from January 2016, will focus on rehabilitating and enhancing the water supply system, strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing service delivery and efficiency and improvement of environmental sanitation.”
It said the above would be achieved through targeted investment and intervention in critical aspects of the water and sanitation infrastructure, relevant institutional and capacity building by providing safe water and ensuring safe disposal of sewage.
This would be in addition to improving the efficiency of water and sanitation infrastructure, and enhancing operational and financial efficiency of service delivery. Some of the key outcomes are improved household access to municipal water supply, reduced environmental pollution from raw sewage and improved utility efficiency.
In terms of sanitation intervention, the whole city is expected to benefit from the rehabilitated public latrines, hygiene education and improved maintenance capacity, whereas the intervention on sewer reticulation and treatment works would benefit about 471,798 people living in the affected catchments, thus eliminating potential health hazards.
AfDB said the beneficiaries in the project area have been engaged during the design of the project and would be involved during implementation to enhance social accountability and partnership.
The project is anchored on the Updated Country Brief (2014-2016) through the emphasis on critical service delivery in the water and sanitation sector. It is also consistent with Zim-Asset in which infrastructure and utilities are one of the four pillars of the plan.
The bailout is consistent with the Bank’s engagement and role in Zimbabwe. AfDB’s support will help reduce fragility and build resilience through its capacity-building initiatives, improving government delivery of basic services particularly to vulnerable groups, and facilitating and leading the country’s re-engagement process with the international community so as to improve development prospects.
This is in complete alignment with the bank’s strategy for enhanced engagement in fragile states. The total cost of the project is estimated at $37.075 million. The bank’s $34.93 million grant derived from Transition Support Facility represents 90 percent of the funding.
The remaining 10 percent would be provided by the government. Bulawayo Mayor Martin Moyo could not be reached for comment on his mobile phone.
Online Reporter