Masvingo’s phase 2 water project begins

which seeks to improve pumping and conveyance capacity by about 100 percent.
This comes after Government paid nearly US$2 million it owed the country’s oldest town in rates and tariffs.
The water augmentation project will cost US$30 million and includes new water pumping stations, water conveyance pipelines and storage tanks.
Masvingo Mayor, Alderman Femius Chakabuda, yesterday said they had resolved to start work using internal resources though they were still courting private financiers.
The council wants to eradicate water rationing by doubling the pumping and conveyance infrastructure.
“Government told us that they could only pay off the debt if we undertook to commit all the money to capital projects.
“We resolved to channel all the funds towards upgrading our waterworks,” said Ald Chakabuda.
He added: “We are talking to private investors and nothing has come out of the talks yet.
“As council we resolved to start the water augmentation programme using our internal resources.”
The city currently pumps about 30 megalitres per day and has remained static at this level when the then town had a population of just 20 000 people.
Masvingo’s population is estimated at 100 000.