Gweru prioritises water infrastructure in 2021 budget
GWERU mayor Josiah Makombe has revealed that the local authority’s top priority in next year’s budget would be replacement of the city’s ageing water infrastructure to ease shortages.
Makombe said it was not possible to refer to quality service delivery without addressing water challenges experienced by residents.
“Our major priority in the 2021 budget is the replacement and rehabilitation of ageing water infrastructure,” he said in an interview yesterday.
“So as we move towards crafting next year’s budget, we should begin to factor in that a large chunk of the city’s cake should be channelled towards the refurbishment of obsolete water equipment.”
He added: “We want to make sure that come next year water should be supplied to high-lying residential areas.”
Besides old equipment, the city’s water problems have been compounded by incessant electrical faults at its Gwenoro Waterworks.
A recent study also showed that the city was losing more than 50% of treated water through leakages.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association director Cornelia Selipiwe welcomed council’s move to replace water infrastructure.
“We have water pumps and pipes installed more than three decades ago and they definitely need replacement,” Selipiwe said.
“In fact prioritising replacement of water infrastructure in the Midlands capital has been long overdue and as residents we welcome such a move by the city fathers.”
The majority of residents currently rely on boreholes and unprotected water sources.