Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve [email protected]
YEARS of water shortages in Victoria Falls’s Mkhosana suburb have ended following the commissioning of a US$5 million reservoir project and two refuse collection trucks on Wednesday.
The project, delivered by the City of Victoria Falls using internal resources, includes a 5-megalitre ground reservoir, a 750-kilolitre elevated tank, 12km of new pipelines, upgraded pump stations and new fire hydrants.
Officiating at the commissioning, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe said the infrastructure would guarantee reliable water access for 25,000 residents who had endured persistent shortages due to inadequate storage and rapid population growth.
The gravity-fed system ensures consistent water pressure across Mkhosana, ending the distress of direct pumping systems that failed during power outages.
“For years, we woke up before dawn to fetch water. Now the taps run day and night,” said a resident Nomsa Ndlovu.
Mr Tendai Sibanda said they used to go for days without water but now have adequate supply.
Minister Garwe said the investment aligns with National Development Strategy 2 and President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 of an empowered upper-middle-income economy.
“It is our desire that all local authorities across the country emulate such efforts,” he said.
The city also commissioned two refuse trucks, a 15-cubic-metre unit procured by council and an 18-cubic-metre unit donated by African Sun Limited.
Victoria Falls town clerk Ronnie Dube said the city had achieved 100 percent water coverage, above the 2026 national target of 90 percent.
The reservoirs now serve 3,696 households in Mkhosana, with capacity to support future growth in the tourism hub.
