Vusumuzi Dube
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
A High-level delegation led by the Minister of Lands Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka, the Bulawayo Water Technical Committee, Bulawayo councillors and senior management is set to tour various projects being undertaken by the combined parties to alleviate the water crises being faced by Bulawayo.
The tour which is set for Friday will cover Mzingwane and Inyankuni project sites.
Bulawayo City Council corporate communications officer, Miss Bongiwe Ngwenya confirmed the visit.
“The Minister of Lands Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, Bulawayo Water Technical Committee, City of Bulawayo Councillors and Management will be touring the Mzingwane and Inyankuni Project Sites on Friday, 26 July 2024 from 8.30am,” she said.
Appraising the National Assembly last Wednesday on the progress made by Bulawayo Technical Team on Water and Sanitation towards the various projects being implemented, the Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Davis Marapira confirmed that funding was secured from Treasury for the upgrading of the dam booster pump station at Mzingwane and a contractor was award the contract.
“The contract for the supply and installation of water pumps and accessories at Mzingwane pump station is currently underway. The procurement of materials for the suction and manifolds is 100 percent complete, fabrication and installation of suction and delivery remains at 50 percent and procurement of pumps is at 30 percent. Pumps are in the production stage and delivery is expected in September.
“With the secured funding it was agreed that instead of implementing this project now, the availed financial resources be directed to improving the available raw supply from Mzingwane, Inyakuni and Mtshebezi raw water supply systems,” said Dep Min Marapira.
He said the Mtshaezi-Mzingwane interlinking pipeline bypass project was advertised on 30 June, 2024 and the tender will be closing on 30 July 2024 while the mechanical works at Inyakhuni are in progress with pump assembly at 20 percent completion, valve manufacture and assembly at 30 percent, electromagnetic flow metre assembly is at 20 percent and overhead crane at 50 percent.
“The rehabilitation of Clarifiers Ncema Water Treatment Works is in progress and contractor successfully moved to site and currently doing fabrication of the components,” said Dep Min Marapira.
Meanwhile, a Non Renewable Water (NRW) Reduction Action Plan consisting of projects amounting to US$2.3 million have been identified and earmarked for implementation in 2024. Dep Min Marapira said the requirements have been submitted for funding consideration.
“The water Mains Renewal Tender has been submitted to PMU for advertising. The City is also in the process of procuring leak repair materials to reduce the backlog of leaks. Several projects have been identified for rehabilitation and upgrading. Currently work is ongoing on sewer chokes in hotspot areas, manhole replacements and replacements of old and collapsing sewer out falls.
“The city has managed to consistently supply water treatment chemical. However, they require consistently USD90 000 monthly for chemicals. There is need for more financial resources for them to maintain a four and six month’s supply to ensure availability of the chemicals we need,”said Dep Min Marapira.
Turning to the rehabilitation of 60 Nyamandlovu boreholes, 20 at Epping Forest and 40 at Rochester, is ongoing with 42 out of 60 boreholes now operational.
The total amount of water being supplied from the aquifer is 14 to 16 megalitres of water per day.
@nyeve14
Online Reporter