Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has stopped Victoria Falls City Council from allocating new residential stands before upgrading its sewer system.
Council was planning to allocate 20 low density housing stands on Wood Road in the low-density area but EMA has told council to expand its sewer system first.
The local authority requires about US$3 million to upgrade its sewer system, a project that involves rehabilitation of the existing infrastructure and building of new sewer ponds.
This is part of the bigger US$15 million Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) project that the council is pursuing and is seeking to partner investors to raise the required funding.
The city’s operations engineer Mr Nathan Ngwenya told a full council meeting on Wednesday that EMA had recommended that council should expand its sewer treatment plant, or make a commitment to do so, for its environment impact assessment with regards to Wood Road stands to be approved.
He said the environmental agency stated that council’s sewer system was overwhelmed hence new developments before its expansion will cause an environmental crisis.
“Bids have been finalised and we expect procurement to start, that is the plan when it comes to servicing Wood Road but the report from EMA is that there is need for council to commit to expand sewer system before any new developments,” said Mr Ngwenya.
The housing waiting list in Victoria Falls stands at around 15 000.
Councillors implored the local authority management to engage EMA and make a commitment to expand the sewer system so that the project is not delayed.
The council’s finance committee chairperson councillor Prince Thuso Moyo said there is need for an urgent solution.
“There should be a way to address this issue of the EIA because if we delay the money will lose value. What they are trying to tell us is that no scheme will be serviced without new sewer ponds,” he said.
Ward 11 councillor Edmore Zhou who chairs the general-purpose committee said the council should opt for septic tanks in the meantime since the area is in the low density where there is space.
Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said the engineering department will continue with plans for servicing the area in the meantime as his office engages EMA.
“These are infill low density stands and the issue is about Victoria Falls’ sewer system that it needs to be upgraded to meet developments that have taken place. We are doing our best to get investors and for this one we have some money in our account which is however only enough to do part site servicing,” he said.
He could not be drawn into disclosing how much the council set aside to service the stands.–@ncubeleon
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