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Clement Mukwasi Victoria Falls Correspondent
The Victoria Falls refuse collection and waste matter management system received a boost after the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) extended a grant of more than $500,000 to the cash strapped council to rehabilitate a dumping site that had become an eyesore in the resort town.
Another $870,000 loan has also been approved for disbursement to the local authority by central government.
Speaking at a handover ceremony of a refuse truck that was bought by council, Town Clerk Christopher Dube said the government grant will help the council buy an assortment of capital equipment that will help improve service delivery.
“The government has approved a loan of $870,000 for the purchase of various equipment which include a refuse truck, bulldozer, front end loader, tipper trucks and a pneumatic compressor. At the same time, EMA have also approved more than $500,000 meant for the rehabilitation of our dump site,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Victoria Falls mayor Councillor Sifiso Mpofu revealed that council bought a UD truck at a cost of $141,000.
He said the truck was delivered more than three months after the council had paid for it.
The mayor expressed gratitude to the Victoria Falls residents for their patience and cooperation towards the purchase of the truck.
“May I take this opportunity to thank the city fathers, management, residents and ratepayers as well as Duly’s Company for contributing towards this good cause. I remember that residents were up in arms with the council when we asked each household to contribute $20 towards the purchase of the truck. We’re very happy today as we witness the handover and commissioning of the new compactor that will go a long way in improving service delivery, especially refuse collection,” he said.
Meanwhile, the general manager in charge of operations in the western division for Duly’s Motors, Levison Batisoni, said the UD truck was ideal for municipal services.
He said the truck saved time and fuel since it was a high technological type of truck.
“This is a high-tech truck that can compress litter and can carry the equivalent of seven loads of an open truck of the same size at one go thereby saving on fuel and time.
“Service parts are available for this kind of truck and we’re contemplating setting another branch in Victoria Falls soon,” said Batisoni.
Online Reporter