adminAbel Zhakata Senior Reporter
A lethal black mamba snake (rovambira) is stalling the speedy completion of the 10-million litre Chikanga water tank as the dangerous reptile is chasing away engineers and Zesa technicians who are working on the Christmas Pass holding tanks that are supposed to feed water into the high-density suburb reservoir. The Chikanga reservoir that will cater for more than 5 000 households is part of the water and sanitation projects being carried out in Mutare under the Zim-Fund initiative.
Vice-President Emmerson Mnangwagwa is expected to officially commission the reservoir next Thursday as well as touring some of the unfinished works.
The black mamba saga came out on Tuesday during a field visit by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Willard Manungo, who wanted to apprise himself on the work done to date against funds disbursed.
Engineers with an Indian firm that was contracted to construct the reservoir told Mr Manungo that the reservoir was now complete, but they were having problems setting up electric meters at the Christmas Pass holding tanks.
They said a big black mamba viciously attacked them last week in the company of Zesa technicians who wanted to upgrade the power grid at the holding tanks to cater for the new electric meters.
Once those meters are installed, they said, the holding tanks would then distribute water into the Chikanga reservoir for use by residents.
Mr Manungo urged the contractors to seek the services of officers from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management to either trap the reptile or scare it away from the holding tanks.
A total of $62, 9 million has been used in supporting the rehabilitation of water and sanitation infrastructure in six cities in the country under the Zim-Fund initiative. In his address during the field visit, Mr Manungo said the urgent upgrading of water and sewerage infrastructure in local authorities was aimed at preventing severe cholera outbreaks like the epidemic experienced in 2008.
He said the country’s development partners had, as at December 31, 2014, committed a total of $148 million through the African Development Bank for disbursement to support developmental projects in the country.
Online Reporter