adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
PLUMTREE Town Council is geared to take over provision of water from Zinwa with effect from next month after getting the green-light from the Government. The move follows a directive by the then Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management’s directive in May this year that council takes over water supply from Zinwa.
The Government had made arrangements that the town council assumes control of the water treatment plant after undergoing an eight-month learning process as it was unable to assume that role at the time.
Plumtree Town Secretary Davis Dumezweni Luthe yesterday said the border town was now ready to take over the responsibility.
He said: “We have purchased a generator to ensure that pumping of water is not disrupted by power cuts. The generator will have the capacity to pump water from the reservoirs to the tower and then to supply the town.”
Luthe added: “We want to address challenges of water cuts which have been facing residents whenever there was no power supply in the town. Water cuts will be dealt with and be a thing of the past.”
Luthe said the local authority was prepared to take over from Zinwa and was working on requisite infrastructure.
“We are ready to take over from Zinwa and we are prepared in terms of infrastructure and personnel. We will be assuming total control over water and sewer services in Plumtree,” he said.
Luthe, however, said the local authority would continue working closely with Zinwa for technical input.
He said after the takeover residents would pay water bills to council, a move that will benefit council in terms of revenue and financing of service delivery.
“Residents will benefit because water connection challenges will now be addressed locally. Zinwa had some of its employees outside Plumtree and this increased the turnaround time when there were cases of emergency,” he said.
Online Reporter