UZ halls of residence to reopen in September

reservoir at the institution, Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Stan Mudenge said yesterday.
Minister Mudenge said this while inspecting the water storage facility at the university.

Halls of residence at the country’s biggest tertiary education institution have been closed since July 2007 owing to water problems. The situation improved in December 2009 due to the commissioning of boreholes by Unicef.

However, the move did not arrest the institution’s water challenges, leading to the closure of the hostels again.
Erratic water supplies hampered the re-opening of the halls of residence, forcing many students to find alternative accommodation in surrounding suburbs.
“The university will open its halls of residence after a long time since its closure and the reservoir will be able to sustain the whole institution with water for three days after being filled up. After a long battle with

Finance Minister Tendai Biti, funds needed for the reservoir were unveiled.
“There is need for another reservoir so that the university is safely sustained for seven days without fears of water rationing,” Minister Mudenge said.

The Minister, however, urged the City of Harare to dedicate a direct line from Emerald Hill as formally agreed.
“What we have at the moment is a half done line, which is connected at Mount Pleasant High and this makes the university share water supplies with the community.

“The current situation will not see adequate water in the reservoir as most of it will be used up by the community before it reaches the university.
“The reservoir relies on pressure in order to supply water to all floors of hostels,” he said.

He added that the ministry was hoping the city would be able to supply the university with water to fill up the 2,5 megalitres reservoir. The project cost US$600 000 and the Chinese Company, Hualong Construction expressed optimism in its completion next week.

The reservoir is going to be filled with water next week for cleaning purposes and testing of the system. UZ Vice Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura, said they had refurbished four hostels for women.
“We thank the Government for the assistance they have rendered and the commitment of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education.”
Prof Nyagura said plans to build more hostels to accommodate 800 more students were underway. The university currently has a capacity to provide accommodation to 4 300 students.