Harare still to get $72m loan balance

HARARE City Council is still awaiting the disbursement of the remaining $72 million from the $144 million Harare Water and Sanitation Rehabilitation facility from China-Exim Bank to enable its Chinese contractor to commence further works.

The rehabilitation of Morton Jaffray Waterworks is almost complete and the contractor has to proceed with works at Warren Control, Alexandra Park and Letombo pump-stations as well as completion of works at Firle and Crowborough Sewage Works.

Harare Mayor Councillor Bernard Manyenyeni, in an interview recently, said council was engaging the responsible authorities for the money to be released.

“Please note that of the $144 million, Harare Water and Sanitation Rehabilitation facility from China Eximbank, the city has drawn down $72 million so far, not the full amount,” he said.

Clr Manyenyeni said the city has however, made notable progress during the past 16 months, particularly along the Marimba (Crowborough) catchment to reduce environmental pollution and enhance public health protection by eliminating raw sewage spillages within communities.

The treatment capacity, he said, remains limited and more efforts will be directed towards rehabilitating the existing treatment works to reduce pollution of raw water sources.

Clr Manyenyeni said even if the treatment plants are 100 percent functional, there still will be considerable excess, which will be reduced by the construction of sludge stabilisation ponds in the interim.

He said the city’s distribution network will receive more attention to reduce physical water losses with various works scheduled being undertaken under the African Development Bank (AfDB).