dyton mupawaenda
Thupeyo Muleya-Beitbridge Bureau
A new reservoir tank constructed by the Government in partnership with the Zimborders Consortium under a Private Public Partnership (PPP) will go a long way in ending the perennial water crisis in Beitbridge town.
Thousands of dollars were invested into the construction of an 11,4 mega-litre reservoir that, besides pumping water, can feed areas as far as 40km through gravitation.
The facility with a floating roof was built atop Mawale hills in the east of the town as part of the five major out-of-port projects falling under the US$300 million Beitbridge Border Modernisation project.
Other projects include, a fire station, animal plant and quarantine, sewer oxidation dam and 220 housing units for Government workers deployed to the border.
Beitbridge has an estimated population of 100 000 and also absorbs the strain of 15 000 travellers transiting through the border post daily.
Before the latest development, the town’s water storage facilities could only carry 10,4 mega litres.
The area requires at least 18 mega litres of water daily and storage facilities to carry a combined 54 mega litres, enough for three days.
In addition, it is also projected that in the next 10 years, the council should have storage facilities to carry about 100 mega litres, enough to cover three days.
Zimborders has since commissioned the water tank and handed it over to the council management.
Beitbridge Town Clerk, Mr Loud Ramakgapola said the completion of the new reservoir was a welcome development in the border town.
“This facility eases service delivery pressure on the municipality, considering that we will not have to pump in between. Water will gravitate to houses without the need for pumping,” said Mr Ramakgapola.
“We are also trying to service new suburbs with sewer and water reticulation facilities although we have limited funds”.
In a recent interview, District Development Coordinator (DDC), Mrs Sikhangezile Mafu-Moyo, who also chairs the local Civil Protect Committee (CPC), said the new water infrastructure was a welcome development.
She said the reservoir will ease the pressure on existing facilities around the town.
Mrs Mafu-Moyo said the abundance of potable water was one of the major service delivery issues in Beitbridge.
“We are happy to have additional water management infrastructure in our area which also handles thousands of people in transit daily,” she said.
Local businessman, Mr Misheck Ndou said they were looking forward to improved service delivery, especially in the provision of clean and safe water which is critical in all business sectors.
“We appreciate this development coming from Government. Our town will not run out of water if the reservoir is well-managed and we will always have clear water,” he said.
It is understood that once fully operational, more households that were not receiving water will be connected to the council reticulation system.
The town currently has over 14 000 properties and an estimated 8 000 are connected to water or are being billed.
Environmentalist, Mrs Nomphumelelo Chigwinya said the availability of more water in the town will improve sanitation issues by reducing open defecation, and prevent the spread of water-borne disease.
“There will be improved access to a clean source of water and overall dignity to residents who did not have access to the water,” she added.
Chairperson of local informal and cross border traders, which has over 500 members, Mr Mafios Macheka, said they were looking forward to a better working environment for their members.
“We need water for ablution, washing of fruits and vegetables and consumption in our workplaces, therefore the improved supply of water is very much important in our business operations,” said Mr Macheka.
Tshidixwa suburb (Old Medium) resident, Mr Raniel Ndou said the community was excited that the water infrastructure had been upgraded in tandem with the town’s population growth.
“This is a great intervention considering that even when we have power cuts which are affecting the water treatment plant, residents can still get water from the reservoir through gravitation,” said Mr Ndou.
Online Reporter