adminThis was revealed by the visiting European Union (EU) delegation that is in Bulawayo at a Press conference held at the National Gallery in Bulawayo on Monday.
Speaking to journalists, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) representative, Dr Peter Salama, said the transitional fund on water will be officially launched in April and would run for four years.
He said the fund will focus largely on Matabeleland South and North.
Dr Salama said the fund was meant to complement the one that is already rolling in urban areas and assist in the provision of water purification chemicals.
“We have been assisting in urban areas and in April we will be launching a rural fund worth $50 million supported by EU member states for water and sanitation to alleviate water problems and improve health systems.
This will be launched in April and will run for between three and four years,” said Dr Salama.
“There are transitional funds on health and education and now there will be a rural water fund as we seek to address water needs, particularly in Matabeleland North and South, which will be the biggest beneficiaries of the fund,” said Dr Salama.
Under the fund, Unicef will rehabilitate boreholes and drill some. Dr Salama said the aim was to complement efforts being made by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) at district and provincial level.
He challenged the private business sector in Matabeleland to be involved so as to ease water problems and develop the region.
“It is important for the private sector to take a leading role in the provision of water so that Zinwa and the District Development Fund only supply spare parts while all the initiatives are done locally,” he said.
Dr Salama said the transition fund on water was in line with Unicef efforts to develop the country as it was also assisting through other transitional funds on health and education.
Commenting on the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, viewed as the permanent solution to water problems in the region and Bulawayo, Dr Salama said Unicef and EU were not capacitated to fund the project, as it was expensive.
He urged the Government and local authorities to focus on rehabilitating sewer systems, as it was cheaper to recycle water and resuscitate sewer links, which will then translate to less loss of water.
He said drawing water from the Zambezi would be expensive and water problems could be solved by developing water infrastructure in rural communities.
Online Reporter