adminMunyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s State visit to China is beginning to yield fruits as Gweru City Council (GCC) is set to receive over US$115 million from that country’s leading engineering company for its water and sanitation infrastructure upgrading and rehabilitation.
GCC recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese company and Government that would see the international engineering company funding the water and sewer reticulation project.
China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) is a construction company that ranks in the Engineering News Record annual compilation of construction firms as one of the 250 largest international contractors by sales, with international project revenue of close to US$1 billion.
Presenting the first quarter budget review report, the city’ finance director, Mr Owen Masimba, said the local authority will soon submit its feasibility studies report to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing.
Mr Masimba said the project came about as a follow up of President Mnangagwa’s recent visit to China to create synergies and strengthen ties between the two countries.
“We have a water and sanitation infrastructure upgrading and rehabilitation project,” he said. “We are looking forward to getting a funding of US$115 215 000 from GEO. We signed an MOA and as we speak we are waiting for submission of final feasibility report.
“We did the feasibility study before, but Government said it should be done by an independent body. So, the study has been done and we have set up a meeting with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing where we intent to submit the report.”
Mr Masimba said the local authority was seeking US$6 million for the designing and construction of the abstraction plant at Mapongogbwe to reinforce Gwenoro Dam.
He said Gwenhoro’s water levels could only sustain the city for six months, hence the need to construct a new water abstraction plant at Mapongogbwe whose water level is at 70 percent capacity.
“Water levels at Gwenhoro can only last for six months,” said Mr Masimba. “We are looking for US$6 million to construct a new water abstraction plant at Mapongogbwe Dam which is adjacent to Gwenhoro.
“The dam is at 70 percent capacity. The money will go towards construction of the abstraction plant and the installation of six water pumps.”
If the project does not sail through, Gweru could face serious water woes.
The city has also been grappling with water challenges that saw it running dry for close to seven days.
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