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Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau
KWEKWE City Council has suspended other developmental projects to channel funds towards water reticulation system, which is gobbling over 60 percent of the local authority’s monthly takings, deputy mayor, Councillor Shadreck Tobaiwa has said.
The remaining percentage, he said, was being channelled towards the employees’ salaries.
In an Interview, Clr Tobaiwa said many projects had been shelved to give priority to water.
“In a bid to improve revenue collection following the demise of council run Simba Beer Breweries and the council bars which used to be our cash cow, the local authority has lined up a number of developmental projects such as the setting up a water bottling plant in a bid to improve revenue,” he said.
“All these projects have since been shelved because of the prevailing situation and we have resolved to channel whatever comes into the council coffers towards water and sewer reticulation, this is a priority area which if we fail to deal with, will result in outbreak of diseases.”
Clr Tobaiwa said a 30-tonne consignment of water treatment chemicals which used to cost RTGS$ 27 000 was now costing the local authority, RTGS$147 000.
He said the local authority was now struggling to raise the funds for water treatment chemicals and would soon run dry.
“This is the biggest challenge that is in our midst,” said Clr Tobaiwa.
“The prices of water treatment chemicals have just shot up and we are expected to fork out RTGS$147 000 for a consignment which we used the get for RTGS$27 000.”
Clr Tobaiwa urged residents to pay their bills for council to improve revenue inflows.
Online Reporter