adminInnocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Harare City Council has engaged two foreign companies to structure facilities for the city’s pipe replacement programme, which is expected to cost $480 million.
The programme is mainly targeting high-density suburbs which have over the years been affected by communicable diseases owing to aged leaking pipes and other environmental factors.
The pipe replacement programme will also extend to the central business district (CBD).
In an interview, Harare mayor Councillor Herbert Gomba said the two companies had the funds to carry out the project, with Cressham Investments of South Africa proposing to replace the aged water pipe network in high density suburbs, as well as install pressure reducing valves, network valves and property connections.
“The high density suburbs will be done by a company called Cressham Investments,” he said. “We are looking at $300 million for the entirety of western suburbs. The CBD requires around $180 million. The CBD will be given to a Chinese company called Quad C.
“To recoup their costs, the companies would lay broadband fibre optic infrastructure alongside the newly laid water distribution pipes and introduce broadband communication services using the same civil works and servitudes required to lay the water pipes and the fibre optics.”
Clr Gomba said after approving the project, council will seek further approval from the Joint Venture Unit of Government.
He said the two companies had available resources to make sure that the water pipes which were leaking causing diseases such as cholera and typhoid were replaced.
“This will be done as part of our 100-day work plan,” said Clr Gomba. “Right now we are working on the modalities. The companies are there. The application has been made as well as adjudication and the initial agreements. We want to send it for further approval from Government.
“I would like to take this opportunity to ask Government to allow us to enter into these joint ventures without following long processes. At this moment in time we should be seen addressing issues to do with communicable diseases.”
Clr Gomba said council had increased the amount of water being supplied to high-density areas with a view of containing diseases.
He said they had also increased the amount of chlorine in council water, urging residents not to listen to anyone other than council concerning drinking water.
“I understand previously some people have made certain statements to the effect that our city water is dirty,” said Clr Gomba. “That is not true. Residents must stop drinking water from unprotected wells. Use our Harare water to control these diseases.”
The city’s water network is failing in most cases due to ageing pipes, corrosion and pressure and there are cases where contractors around the city also damage pipes.
At least 9 000 pipe bursts are reported annually in the network.
From the 5 500km of pipe network, the city says if it deals with between 2 500km and 3 000km then Harare would have a system that has integrity.
Last year, the city overhauled 110km of its ageing water reticulation system at a cost of $23 million.
Online Reporter