IDBZ avails $700 000 for construction of Hwange plant

THE Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe has availed about $700 000 for the construction of Hwange’s Mpumalanga waste water treatment plant.

Speaking during an Environmental Management Agency (EMA) media tour of Baobab water treatment plant in Hwange last Friday, Hwange Local Board engineer, Philip Mguni said construction of the new treatment plant is set to begin in the next two weeks.

The construction of the Mpumalanga waste water treatment plant follows the completion of the $300 000 Baobab water treatment plant last month.

The project was funded by Government under the Public Sector Investment Programme.

The Baobab waste water treatment plant uses solar energy, a development the local authority says will reduce expenditure on power by 65 percent.

“A memorandum of understanding has been signed with the IBDZ and work is expected to begin in two weeks’ time,” said Eng Mguni.

The Mpumalanga waste water treatment will service both Old and new Mpumalanga suburbs.

The Hwange town secretary, Mr Ndumiso Mdlalose said the waste water treatment plant will enable them to establish fish ponds under Command Fishing.

He said the local authority was committed to improving its waste management systems.

“The water from the plant will enable us to set up fish ponds and engage in fish farming under Command Fishing,” said Mr Mdlalose.

EMA Matabeleland North provincial officer Mrs Chipo Mpofu-Zuze commended the local authority for its commitment to improving its waste management systems.

“As EMA we are very happy that you are investing in waste water treatment to minimise contamination of water bodies,” she said.

Mrs Mpofu-Zuze urged other local authorities to emulate what Hwange town was doing in order to