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Masvingo mayor Alderman Femius Chakabuda yesterday said council had approached private financial institutions to fund the water works expansion project.
Alderman Chakabuda said a surge in demand had forced council to seek doubling water output and stem prevailing water shortages which council fears might worsen as the year propceeds.
“We are looking for nearly US$50 million to double our water works capacity that is from pumping, purification, conveyancing and finally the storage. We simply want to duplicate the water works infrastructure that we have at the moment and we feel that is the only way to end the prevailing water shortages. We can no longer cope with the demand for water at the moment.
“Council is looking for the money from different sources especially private financiers and if we are to get the money even today we will start the water works upgrade because its long overdue,’’ he said.
Masvingo draws its water from Zimbabwe’s largest inland dam, Lake Mutirikwi but has of late been plagued by water shortage which has seen some suburbs going for days without water.
The city’s population is now estimated at over 100 000 people, hence the high water intake.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter