Chitungwiza Municipality struggling with sewer problems over several years has allocated $2,4 billion towards its sewer rehabilitation programme for 2023, an official has said.
Presenting the 2023 budget report, finance committee chairperson Councillor Fungayi Magadzire told a full council held recently that the money will address the most affected areas in Chitungwiza.
“In order to achieve our vision we have budgeted US$ 3 million towards rehabilitation of our sewerage infrastructure that has collapsed in hot spot areas,” he said.
The areas are Gomba, Tilcor, St Mary’s pump station 2 to pump station 3, St Mary’s Trunk line, Zengeza outfall, Unit C, Jambanja and Upper Seke outfall.
Cllr Magadzire said last year the council failed to rehabilitate all the targeted areas as the prices were fluctuating.
“Effort is being made to ensure there is recapitalisation of all facets of service delivery.
“In 2022, we embarked on a sewer rehabilitation project for Unit C however the project could not be completed due to forward pricing materials.”
He said that all the materials have been purchased for the Unit C sewer line and the work is in progress.
Residents that spoke to The Herald welcomed the development although calling for the appointment of a substantive engineer to oversee the projects.
“We are hoping that if the money together with African Development Bank’s ZimFund will be able to alleviate the perennial sewer problems in the town although the US$3,4 million is dependent on the budget performance and plugging of revenue leaks at the municipality,” said Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association secretary Mr Brighton Mazhindu.
The council in 2021 was allocated US$1,787 million under the African Development Bank’s ZimFund for sewage reticulation as part of the urgent water supply and sanitation rehabilitation project phase I and phase II.
Last year it then received 300mm diameter pipes, a backhoe loader and a skid steer loader from AfDB in March.
Chitungwiza Residents Trust director Ms Alice Kuveya has castigated the local authority for failing to appoint a substantive engineer who is able to oversee all council projects.
“Even if council allocates money for sewer rehabilitation it is of no use as long as it does not have an engineer.
“We know that materials donated last year by AfDB to fix sewer problems were lying idle because the council does not have an engineer,” she said.
She blamed the management for failing to address the issue as a matter of urgency because they do not live in Chitungwiza and do not fully appreciate the impact of sewer bursts in the town.
Chitungwiza acting town clerk Mrs Evangelista Machona is on record saying the council was aware of the need of having an engineer and was waiting for approval from the Ministry of Local Government to recruit one.
The position was last occupied by Engineer David Duma who was the works director but was suspended early last year on allegations of gross misconduct. – The Herald
