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The NGO will assist council to replace water pipes and buy vehicles in an effort to make residents more willing to pay for services, as they would be “improved.”
Bulawayo councillors have resolved that the city should be included in the local authorities benefiting from the GIZ-AusAid programme following an invitation by the organisation.
GIZ-AusAID is already working with the cities and towns of Gweru, Kadoma, Kariba and Norton in mitigating challenges faced by the local authorities in service delivery.
With regards to Bulawayo, the programme would seek the re-establishment of water sanitation services, culminating in willingness by residents to pay for services.
The latest council report shows that revenue collection for water, sewage and refuse charges is expected to increase to at least 60 percent, from the average 33 percent after implementation of the programme.
“This re-establishment of services would mean that water is reliably treated and supplied to consumers, sewage removed from residential areas, solid waste is collected and not dumped in residential areas while water and sanitation services are reliably billed and fees collected,” reads the report.
It is stated in the report that the programme is divided into three parts namely, strategic investment planning, technical and financial operations.
“Under technical operations, the water supply and sanitation services as well as solid waste management are expected to improve. The financial operations are aimed at improving accounting, billing and collection of revenue.”
The report shows that the major interventions in strategic planning included replacement and repair of pumps, pipes and electromechanical equipment according to the specifics of the city.
“It also includes procurement of pick-ups, motor cycles, compactors, landfill compactors, bins, tractors, water meters, protective clothing and tool sets. Awareness and hygiene campaigns are included in the programme,” reads the report.
However, the council report shows that the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation was yet to approve extension of the programme to Bulawayo.
“This approval should be communicated shortly, after which solid waste management activities should start. Water and sewer activities will be based on council’s master plan and it is expected that GIZ-AusAID would participate in the steering committee that was in the process of being set up.
The city of Bulawayo’s chamber secretary, Mrs Sikhangele Zhou is on record saying development partnerships should be encouraged at local authorities as they expedited improvement of service delivery through financial and technical assistance.
She said that during the handover of two fire tenders and fire fighting equipment worth more than $1 million to the city recently by Operation Florian, a UK based humanitarian organisation.
The city has been struggling to provide adequate services to residents due to what it termed reluctance by residents to pay bills.
It is struggling to maintain an aged water and sewer infrastructure most of which has been in use since the 1940’s, that has rotting pipes that are always leaking.
Online Reporter