Victoria Falls starts on Mkhosana reservoirs

VICTORIA Falls City Council has commenced construction of reservoirs in Mkhosana suburb to address the city’s water shortage challenges.

The resort city’s residents especially in Mkhosana suburb endure endless water cuts because of inadequate reservoirs.

The city pumps adequate water from the abstraction point at the Zambezi River but the biggest challenge is distribution of the precious liquid due to lack of reservoirs especially in high-lying areas like Mkhosana.

When there is a power cut, water supplies to Mkhosana are immediately cut off. This, coupled with ageing pumping equipment, has been causing perennial water supply challenges to residents of Victoria Falls which was conferred city status in 2019.

The local authority requires close to US$15 million for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) project, which will result in an overhaul of the whole water and sewer reticulation system and has been courting investors without success.

The council recently disposed of some land to raise money for water projects after resolving to go it alone using its own resources.

The local authority started the process of tendering for the construction of reservoirs last year and has set aside US$4 million for the project.

“The City of Victoria Falls has commenced construction of ground and elevated reservoirs in Mkhosana. The project is one of the cardinal projects earmarked for improving water delivery services in the resort city,” said Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube.

The ground reservoir will have a capacity of five megalitres while the elevated one will be 0,75 megalitres. Workers have been busy clearing the land in preparation for construction of the reservoirs.

The council sold 8 300 stands south of Mkhosana, 1 811 along Wood Road and part of the money raised is funding construction of the reservoirs.

The Government early last year allowed Victoria Falls City Council to take over water management from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa).