Council urged to expedite sewer project

MASVINGO City Council has been challenged to urgently complete a multi-million-dollar sewer trunkline project that will enable over 10 000 new houses in the newly-opened Victoria Ranch suburb to be connected to the city’s sewer reticulation system.

The project entails the construction of a 7km sewer trunkline from Victoria Ranch to Rujeko Pump Station and under-funding has been stalling work which started more than six years ago.

A company contracted by council to undertake the project abandoned work amid reports it had deliberately undercharged to win the tender.

Recently, the Commission of Inquiry into the sale of State land in and around urban areas raised the red flag over the absence of sewer and water reticulation systems at Victoria Ranch raising the spectre of an outbreak of disease.

Chairman of Vashandi Housing Co-operative, one of the biggest land developers at Victoria Ranch, Mr Goddard Dunira, dispelled fears of a health time bomb at Victoria Ranch saying the ball was now in council’s court to complete the sewer trunkline project.

“There is no health time bomb at Victoria Ranch at all because housing beneficiaries there are currently using Eco-San toilets as a temporary measure and we are very happy with the situation on the ground now because on our part as land developers we are almost 100 percent with connecting water and in terms of sewer pipes we are between 50 to 70 percent but all the building materials are in place,” said Mr Dunira.

“However, what is of concern to us is that even if we are to finish installation of the sewer system, nothing will change much unless the city council completes the sewer trunkline project which connects Victoria Ranch’s sewer system to the city’s.”

Mr Dunira said land developers at Victoria Ranch deserved a pat on the back for reducing the city’s housing backlog.

“We built more than 10 000 new houses mainly for low-income earners and servicing is currently underway with roads and other facilities such as schools being built. But that will be done in stages and we feel credit must be given where it is due because we lowered the city’s housing backlog,” said Cde Dunira.

He expressed concern over what he said was unwarranted criticism of the Victoria Ranch housing project saying land developers were closely working with council to make sure the developments were done according to standard.

Deputy Mayor Councillor Wellington Mahwende admitted that the stalled sewer trunkline project was affecting full installation of a functional sewer reticulation system at Victoria Ranch.

He said council was engaging the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) for a funding arrangement for the sewer trunkline project.

“We are talking to NSSA about funding the sewer trunk-line project and we are optimistic that a deal will be struck soon,” said Clr Mahwende.