Govt committed to solving water woes

GOVERNMENT has put in place measures to end water woes affecting most local authorities across the country, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo has said.

Speaking during a meeting with Kwekwe City Council management and councillors, Minister Moyo said solving the prevailing urban water crises was among one of President Mnangagwa’s top priorities.

“The water problems started with Harare and Gweru, but we have since broadened the scope of our intervention in the water crisis,” he said. “We are fixing Harare now, but we have an eye on all other local authorities across the country.”

Minister Moyo said President Mnangagwa was committed to ending the water and sewer problems across the country.

“President Mnangagwa is saying let us put an end to medieval diseases like cholera and typhoid,” he said. “But for us to achieve this, we have to solve the water and sewer crisis that is bedevilling our local authorities.

“But as councils, let us dedicate ourselves, let us work together with other arms of Government to ensure that we fulfil the President’s wish.”

Minister Moyo said Government was in the process of crafting an Infrastructure Development Bond which will be accessed by local authorities to revamp their water and sewer infrastructure.

“We are still pushing for the Ministry of Finance to speed up the Infrastructure Development Bond which will also be used to revamp infrastructure across cities and towns,” he said.

Minister Moyo lambasted corrupt council officials who were bent on fleecing Government through unwarranted demands for foreign currency to import water chemicals, yet they were being manufactured locally.

“Government has made a decision that no local authority should import water treatment chemicals,” he said. “We have Chemplex, a local company that was created for two purposes. First, for the production of fertilisers for use in the farming sector and, secondly, for the production of aluminium sulphate solid.”

The company has the capacity and is producing 7 000 tonnes a year, yet all the local authorities across the country required about 5 000 tonnes.

“The company has the capacity to produce enough chemicals, but we should make sure that our local authorities pay so that the company continues producing,” he said.

Chemplex, Minister Moyo said, was established by Government to ensure the local supply of chemicals and to cut the import bill.

Water problems have been bedevilling most local authorities across the country, with Gweru, Bulawayo and Harare being the most affected.

Kwekwe mayor Councillor Angeline Kasipo said the town was still safe from water crisis though it was facing minor challenges in purchasing water treatment chemicals.

Meanwhile, Masvingo City Council is failing to get a dedicated power line to its Bushmead water treatment plant for the 24-hour essential service and the cost of a solar installation or a diesel generator would be prohibitive, reports our Masvingo Bureau.

Masvingo City Council has asked Zesa for a dedicated power line at Bushmead so the treatment works do not suffer the general load shedding in the area, but Zesa has not been forthcoming on this, Engineer Tawanda Gozo of the council has told residents.

Addressing a water conference organised by Masvingo United Ratepayers and Residents Alliance (MURRA) on Tuesday, Eng Gonzo said council faced water cuts caused by load shedding, but the alternatives were far beyond its financial capacity.

He said residents accused the local authority of not doing enough to address the issue of power cuts at the main water works.

“But we have considered all the alternatives to address the problem,” said Eng Gonzo. “As you know, the issue of power shedding is a national problem. Residents have suggested that we install a solar system or buy generators for the plant and we have considered all those alternatives.

“For us to install solar system with the capacity to pump water from the plant, we need at least US$6 million. But we cannot afford to install a solar system at that prohibitive cost, let alone ask residents to pay.

“US$1,5 million will buy a generator with a capacity to pump adequate water and the generator requires at least 150 litres of diesel per hour, every day.”