Devolution funds to ease water, sewer challenges in Marondera

MARONDERA municipality is working on improving water and sewer reticulation using devolution funds to transform the lives of residents.

The infrastructure upgrade is in line with National Development Strategy 1 ( NDS1), the national five- year economic management master plan that runs from 2021 to 2025.

Infrastructure development is expected to play a key role in delivering Vision 2030 of an empowered upper middle income society.

Marondera municipality was allocated $ 330 million and has so far spent $ 31 million buying modular tanks, water reticulation network pipes and rehabilitation of sewage pump stations.

In an interview, Marondera mayor Councillor Simbarashe Nyahuye said the Government was working tirelessly to improve the livelihoods of residents.

“We want to thank our Government for disbursing devolution funds which will see the improvement of town, especially in areas where there are water and sewer challenges,” he said.

“We, at council, are going to install water modular tanks i n Cherutombo where t here is a challenge of water. As we speak, our team is on the ground rehabilitating a sewer pumping station.”

Cllr Nyahuye applauded the Government for implementing the devolution agenda, saying it has reduced the burden on rate payers.

“Devolution funds are meant to transform livelihoods of residents. As we can see now, the funds are now used to rehabilitate sewer and procuring water tanks,” he said.

“Some of the pipes procured using devolution funds were supposed to be bought using money from rate payers.”

Residents in Cherutombo could not hide their joy on the prospects of ending water challenges.

Mrs Muchabaiwa of Muchabvuma Street said she had gone for years without running water.

“We are happy that the water challenges will be thing of the past,” she said. “It’s been years without receiving running water from taps.”

Another resident, Mrs Juliet Makwena, said they were optimistic about receiving water on a daily basis.