Zvishavane seeks funds to fix sewer system

ZVISHAVANE Town Council is seeking partners to assist in the rehabilitation of the Mabula Sewer Ponds and resuscitation of the Runde Water Plant at a cost of $400 000.

There has been steady growth in Zvishavane’s population due to mining activities and the establishment of a Midlands State University campus that caters for about 3 000 students.

Over 8 000 houses are under construction in Mabula, while other housing developments are underway in Eastlea Extension, Emthonjeni and Light Industrial area among other projects.

Zvishavane Town Council secretary Mr Tinoda Mukutu said council was looking at various initiatives to fund the two projects.

“We have a sewer treatment plant (Mabula), which is not working and we want to resuscitate that but we will need assistance from central Government or other partners. We want to make sure that it’s up and running because about 40 percent of our waste water is going to the environment and it is not good for the town.

“Runde Water Plant also needs to be resuscitated and the two projects are expected to cost about $400 000,” he said.

He said the treatment plant has not been working since 2005 adding that the local authority is set to appear before the Environmental Management Agency Board after failing to meet a recent order to stop discharging raw effluent into the environment.

Mr Mukutu said council is also failing to procure water treatment chemicals and carry out major maintenance works to ensure consistent water supply due to funding constraints.

“We also have challenges in the procurement process of water treatment chemicals, pump repairs and maintenance and as we speak we have one of our raw water pump which has broken down but we cannot repair it because we do not have money,” he said.