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Moffat Mungazi
Post Reporter
THE much-awaited Dangamvura Water Pipeline Project is now 98 percent complete, with residents in parts of the suburb already getting supplies after nearly two decades of dry taps, The Manica Post can reveal.
Speaking on the sidelines of a tour to assess progress on Tuesday, acting Mutare Town Clerk Mr Blessing Chafesuka described the development as a milestone that would bring relief to Dangamvura residents.
“We can safely say the project is nearing 100 percent completion. In fact, as we speak, residents in some sections of the suburb are already enjoying tap water. Our engineers have been tirelessly working round the clock to ensure that everyone in Dangamvura gets water,” he said.
Mr Chafesuka said council would soon conduct pressure tests to ensure everything was working perfectly following repairs of leaks along the pipeline.
Commissioning of the project will then follow after its certification.
This means Dangamvura now has two dedicated main lines that feed its twin water reservoirs — the new 450mm under this project and the 250mm that was already in place.
“When we did the first test run, some leaks were discovered and we rectified that. We then filled the two reservoirs along the Link Road, which in turn fed another tank in the suburb for distribution around Dangamvura. As soon as we are done with the final touches, the project will then be commissioned and we are looking forward to doing that by the end of this month,” said Mr Chafesuka.
He expressed gratitude to the support they received from African Development Bank (AfDB) throughout the project, adding that Mutare City Council will continue investing in sustainable projects to improve service delivery.
“Our staff in the technical services department have been capacitated for expansion as we have plans to establish a mini-hydro power station between the water source at Pungwe and the Odzani Water Treatment Plant, with the possibility of using the same water conveyance infrastructure.
“We have already carried out the feasibility studies to confirm viability of this project. We are committed to continue being the city that provides the cleanest water to its residents across the whole country,” he said.
Mr Chafesuka led a delegation comprising a team from AfDB, councillors and council officials on a tour of the project.
The delegation toured the site where the pipeline branches off the Hobhouse water line at the corner of Jeff and Magamba Roads, the Hobhouse tank, Dangamvura reservoirs and the homes of some Dangamvura residents.
The Dangamvura water pipeline project was funded to the tune of US$1 million, with the AfDB providing the bulk of the funds through ZimFund, while Government also chipped in through devolution funds.
Council also raised some of the money.
For close to 20 years, Dangamvura residents had endured living without running tap water in their homes.
Residents had become used to getting water on an average of three days per week as shortages persisted over the years.
However, a silver lining is now flickering in that dark cloud as council moves to avail water to the affected communities.
Over 10 000 households in the suburb are set to benefit from the project upon its completion.
Dangamvura Ward Seven Councillor Zwenyika Misi said the water pipeline will transform residents’.
A Dangamvura resident, Mr Elison Basopo, said it was long overdue for residents to get running tap water in their homes, adding that the latest development is welcome.
He was all smiles as he welcomed the delegation at his residence in the C Section of the suburb.
“I am now getting running water from the tap,” said an elated Mr Basopo, ardently opening the tap as water flowed into the bathtub.
He added: “At long last after 22 years, it has now been done. This is a serious challenge we have been grappling with since 2000. We would wake up around midnight to fetch water and fill every conceivable container when supply was restored before it was cut off again around 3am.
“My son in Form One was so excited to take a shower in this house for the first time in his life, so you can imagine how happy we are to finally get water after what seemed like eternity without the precious liquid.
“We are grateful to Government, the council, other stakeholders and everyone who was involved in seeing this project come to fruition. After the project took off, we kept our fingers crossed as we keenly followed progress, although council kept on moving timelines of completion of the project,” said Mr Basopo.
He urged other residents to use water sparingly and continue paying their bills to enable the local authority to provide better services.
Said Mr Basopo: “Let us be responsible in our usage of water by conserving it and not abusing it by leaving taps running. We must also avoid blockages in the reticulation system so that we continue enjoying uninterrupted water supply.”
ZimFund manager, Mr Emmanuel Nzabanita expressed satisfaction with progress on the Dangamvura Water Pipeline Project.
“We are impressed by the good work that Mutare City Council has carried out on the Dangamvura Water Pipeline Project as this speaks to the need of improving the people’s standards of living by providing clean and easily accessible water in their homes.
“Water is life and we are glad that the communities in the suburb are now enjoying the benefits of the project,” he said.
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