By Abigail Mzimbawakhe (Midlands Correspondent)
The government has promised to disburse ZWL$5,8 million to Kwekwe Local Authority for the rehabilitation of their water and sewer systems.
The money will also be used for the procurement and installation of an induction electric motor and a pump set as well as the procurement of gate valves for the rehabilitation of the rising mains at Dutchman’s Pool Water Treatment Plant.
In a statement yesterday, the Finance and Economic Development Minister Mthuli Ncube said government has noticed a huge number of other local authorities that were equally affected with poor sewer and water infrastructure.
“The Government will be disbursing ZWL$9,770 million from the Inter-Government Fiscal Transfers allocation towards Chegutu and Kwekwe City Councils based on the submissions from the affected councils”.
The funds disbursed by the government will also help in the completion of Mbizo 3 Trunk Line Sewer Upgrade Project and the procurement of a new compressor and the repair of diaphragm to the resuscitation of the bio-digester plant.
Minister Ncube said that the failure by the Kwekwe Local Authority to invest in its infrastructure to collect revenue has led to the council to have losses and remain in debt, especially for water chemicals.
“The council has failed to invest in the maintenance and rehabilitation of infrastructure assets which has resulted in high water losses along the distribution networks with some local authorities having water losses above 60 percent,
“The Local Authority is failing to collect billed amounts from residents which have amounted up to huge bills for water treatment chemicals which has resulted in suppliers suspending services,” said Minister Ncube.
He further added that waste disposal was a huge challenge for most local authorities and if not corrected, it may cause re-emergence of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.