adminAndrew Chimedza Herald Reporter
Major stakeholders last week toured water projects and sewage treatment plants in Harare and Chitungwiza which are funded by Zimbabwe Multi-Donor Trust (ZimFund) under the auspices of the African Development Bank.
The tours followed the closure of Phase One of a project launched in December 2011 to improve water supplies and sanitation infrastructure development.
The delegates, comprising Government officials from various ministries, residents representatives two local authorities and journalists, toured Prince Edward Water Works in Chitungwiza, Zengeza Waste Water Treatment Works (ZWWTW), Firle Sewage Works in Glen View and Morton Jaffray Water Works near Norton.
In an interview with The Herald during the tour, ZimFund Manager, Mr Emmanuel Nzabanita, said their objective was to improve water supplies and sanitation in the country.
He said the fund helped replace nine damaged pumps at Prince Edward Water Works and ZWWTW.
“As you know, we have been implementing water and sanitation projects in Harare and Chitungwiza so we felt it was important for the residents to visit these sites so they can appreciate what ZimFund has done,” he said.
He said the bank had managed to rehabilitate nine pumps in Chitungwiza.
Harare city water distribution manager Mr Hosiah Chisango said the contribution from ZimFund had enabled them to supply water to such areas as Mabvuku and Glen Lorne that had gone for years without water.
At ZWWTW, plant superintendent Mr Witness Gowero said the plant had been down for almost a decade before its repair.
“Nothing has been happening here but with the coming of ZimFund, we are now operating fully as they have provided us with new pumps,” he said.
He said their sewer systems were no longer polluting rivers as they were now directing treated water to the Imbwa farm which is seven kilometres from the plant.
Chitungwiza Residents Trust director Mr Marvelous Khumalo said they were happy with the tour which had given them an insight into ZimFund projects.
The ZimFund was created in 2010 by a group of donors to support priority recovery activities of the Gove- rnment of Zimbabwe.
The focus areas of the Fund are water, sanitation, and energy sectors.
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