Chronicle Editor
Mthabisi Tshuma, Gwanda Reporter
GWANDA Municipality has come under fire for failure to meet the deadline to complete the construction of the five megalitre Spitzkop Reservoir.
Council had initially said the reservoir, on top of the Spitzkop Mountain in Gwanda Town, will be completed by the end of next month but it is now saying this is not possible.
This is not the first time the project has stalled as it has missed a number of deadlines for more than a decade.
The reservoir is seen as the panacea to perennial water shortages which have dogged the town for years.
Gwanda Mayor Councillor Njabulo Siziba told the Chronicle last month that the local authority expected water to start running from taps in Spitzkop suburb by the end of March.
In a telephone interview, Gwanda Municipality Engineer Ndabezinhle Twala indicated that residents mainly at Spitzkop suburb will have to wait longer before water runs from their taps.
He said this is due to the fact that the contractor is yet to secure some equipment which should be imported.
“Currently we are doing the patching on part of the reservoir after it was tested and found to have leaks. We are also in the process of testing the delivery line to the end user.
“On the deadline issue, it will depend on the contractor but l do not think we will meet it in terms of the residents having running water.
This could take months,” said Eng Twala.
He said the reservoir is meant to service not only Spitzkop suburb but other areas of the town as well.
Gwanda Residents Association’s secretary for youths Mr Wellington Nare called for Government intervention on the matter saying residents were fed up with the delays in completing the project.-@mthabisi_mthire
Online Reporter