adminIntervention Programme.
Since 2009 the UN agency has contributed US$60 million towards water and sanitation in Zimbabwe.
Unicef country representative Dr Peter Salama said donors responded overwhelmingly to the request to raise US$6 million towards the procurement of the chemicals.
“We have received massive response. We have managed to raise US$4,7 million of the required US$6 million,” he said.
Initially Unicef had intended to discontinue the programme in June last year but was requested to postpone the cut-off date to mid this year.
The programme has again been extended to March 2012 following massive appeals by councils citing incapacity to be on their own.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Develop-ment Minister Ignatius Chombo and Water Resources and Development Minister Sipepa Nkomo supported the request and signed an agreement with Unicef for the continued support.
The two ministers cited fears of a second cholera outbreak should the support be discontinued prematurely before councils could stand on their own.
He said out of all local authorities only Harare had shown capacity to stand on its own by December this year.
Harare now receives 40 percent of its water treatment chemical support under the scheme.
“The other councils can not take over,” he said.
But Dr Salama said by March next year all councils should be able to buy chemicals on their own to avoid donor fatigue.
Online Reporter