End in sight for Masvingo water woes

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
A CHINESE engineering firm, CAMAC, has expressed interest in financing a $52 million water reticulation project for Masvingo City Council in a move set to ease water woes haunting the local authority. Town Clerk, Adolf Gusha told Chronicle the ambitious deal was almost done and would address water problems affecting residents and industry.
“The City Council will soon embark on a $52 million water and sewage reticulation project. Presently, we are tying loose ends before actual work begins,” Gusha said.
“Modalities are being worked out, with technical and draft commercial contracts having been submitted to central government for scrutiny.”

He said once approved by central government preliminary work will start mid this year.
“We have finished the drafting of the technical and commercial contract and submitted it to central government and we are waiting for approval,” said Gusha.

He said some of the equipment at the Bushmead Water Works station has outlived its lifespan having been installed in the early 80s.
Gusha said the population had increased rapidly over the years without a corresponding increase in pumping capacity.

“Presently we have a capacity to supply water for 35,000 residents but that number has quadrupled,” he said.
“The population is estimated to be over 150,000 residents. Even if we have enough water in dams we are bound to experience challenges due to our low pumping capacity.”

Gusha paid tribute to the government for helping council in getting partners to address water challenges that the local authority faces.
“I would want to applaud various stakeholders and government for assisting us in addressing water problems,” he said.

The local authority has been facing water problems over the years due to ageing equipment and low water levels.
Mutirikwi Dam, the city’s main water source, almost dried up with water levels dropping to 5,5 percent before the rains started.

However, as of March, 9, 2014, water levels at the dam had risen to 36 percent.
Provision of clean water is one of the targeted Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations to be achieved by 2015.