Bulawayo water supplies increase

VICE-PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday commissioned the 42km Mtshabezi pipeline, as he also revealed that Government had secured $30 million from Belarus for the procurement of dam construction equipment.
The Mtshabezi pipeline project, whose construction cost over $23 million, has brought relief to Bulawayo’s perennial water woes as it has increased water supply to the city by close to 20 percent.

Speaking at Mtshabezi Dam site in Matabeleland South province yesterday, VP Mnangagwa said the pipeline project represented a landmark in Government’s efforts to address Bulawayo’s water shortages.

VP Mngangagwa reiterated Government’s commitment to improving citizens’ access to safe and clean water as enshrined in the country’s Constitution and espoused in the Millennium Development Goal Number Seven. He said the completion of the Mtshabezi pipeline project also came as a major contribution to the achievement of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation (Zim-Asset).

“I am particularly elated by the fact that the fruition of this project is a key milestone in our journey to address the perennial water problems that have afflicted the City of Bulawayo for years. Prior to this development the situation had deteriorated to such an unprecedented level that the council had to resort to the implementation of four days of water shedding per week. Notwithstanding the above challenges, Government has made significant strides in ensuring the provision of safe and clean water to its citizens,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa said Government, through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) would continue developing water infrastructure, which he said was a prerequisite to stimulate economic activity and to promote socio-economic development.

He said the recently pronounced 10-Point Plan by President Mugabe reaffirmed Government’s commitment to setting up and revitalising infrastructure for key sectors such as water, energy and information technology.

Outlining a number of Government water projects that are at different stages of construction, the Vice-President added that development of water infrastructure would go a long way in mitigating the effects of drought and climate change.

“Being mindful of the crucial role agriculture plays in our country, it is our hope and belief that part of the water infrastructure that we have put in place shall contribute to the improvement of agriculture in the country. The infrastructure will go a long way in helping the country in mitigating the effects of drought and climate change,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa said as part of efforts to improve water infrastructure and enhance water harvesting in light of climate change effects on rainfall patterns, Government had allocated $30 million to Zinwa for the procurement of dam construction equipment.

“Because of the current situation where the weather is changing we ask the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate to make sure we harvest as much water as possible and not allow our water just to flow and go to the sea. This is why when I was sent to Belarus by the President, where we got some lines of credit, the President insisted that I must talk to Zinwa to hear what they want to be able to build more dams and for that reason we have allocated them $30 million to build dams,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa also took the opportunity to encourage villagers in Umzingwane District who live along the pipeline to take advantage of the pipeline and start irrigation schemes as a way of improving food security in the area. The pipeline has seven off-take points along the way which allow locals to access water from the dam.

Turning to food shortage concerns in Matabeleland South province, VP Mnangagwa gave assurance that no-one in the country was going to starve as Government had secured enough grain for food aid in drought stricken areas.

“We have enough stocks of food in the country. We tied down up to 50 000 tonnes of maize from Zambia and so far 16 000 tonnes have come in and are at our Bulawayo silos. Internally in our silos we have more than 162 000 tonnes of maize. So we have enough maize to take us over the period and we are still acquiring more maize, so there is no need for anyone to starve,” said the VP.

Speaking at the same function, Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri paid tribute to all stakeholders who contributed towards the successful completion of the Mtshabezi water project. She reiterated her ministry’s commitment to providing adequate, clean water to all communities across the country.

Bulawayo City Council, the major beneficiary of the pipeline project, was represented by mayor Councillor Martin Moyo who was accompanied by several members of the local authority’s management team. Also in attendance were the Minister of Rural Development Cultural Preservation Cde Abednico Ncube, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Cde Christopher Chingosho, Deputy Minister of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development, Cde Abigal Damasane, Zinwa acting board chairperson Mrs Duduzile Shinya, Members of Parliament and Government officials, among other dignitaries.