adminLovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
GWERU City Council is positioning itself to benefit from the mega Chinese deals signed by President Mugabe during his State visit to the Asian country in August.The local authority has already applied to government and submitted proposals to fund some infrastructural development projects.
China has committed to finance viable capital and infrastructural development projects as part of $12 billion pledged by the Asian economic giant.
Gweru City Council director of finance, Edgar Mwedzi said council has already made its submissions to government to access the Chinese loans for massive projects in the city.
“As a city we are also implementing Zim-Asset and we have already written to government to assist us in securing funding from the Chinese as part of the deals which were signed by the President.
“If we are successful in getting the funding some of it will come in the form of equipment such as earthmoving equipment and these we intend to use to upgrade our roads which are now in an appalling state,” he said.
In its proposed capital expenditure for 2015 expected to be bankrolled by the Chinese loans to be accessed through government, council intends to purchase a bulldozer, front-end loader, pneumatic roller, wheel compactor and an excavator which are meant to service the city’s roads and is expected to cost $637,000.
Apart from the earth moving equipment council will also purchase a fire engine, a tractor and two refuse compactors as part of the capital expenditure.
Mwedzi said infrastructural development projects on the cards include the installment of filters at Whitewaters Dam, a project which is expected to chew $90,000 as well as the installation of two pumps at Amapongokwe Dam at a cost of $300,000 projects which will go a long way in addressing the city’s perennial water challenges.
Council has also lined up a $7 million sewer rehabilitation exercise which will be done in phases. This year, the council will set aside $2 million for the exercise.
Online Reporter