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Felix
Matasva
MUTARE- The Covid-19
pandemic, which plunged the country into different stages of national
lockdowns, has delayed progress on the much awaited Christmas Pass- Dangamvura
water pipeline project which has been reported to be above 60 percent complete
after the city council had initially set April 2021 as the deadline for
completion.
If completed, the Christmas Pass-Dangamvura water pipeline
project would address water woes in Dangamvura high density suburb, Fernvalley
and Industrial area where residents and businesses have been bearing the brunt
of water shortages for nearly 2 decades.
City of Mutare director of engineering and technical
services Maxwell Karenyi told TellZim News that the project was above 60
percent and was delayed by the Covid-19 induced lockdowns.
“Last year we received GRP pipes which covers a
distance of 2 100 meters at a cost of about US$345 000.
“When the project was initially started in 2007 there
was an under design by the engineers who were undertaking the works. When we
were checking the design we realised that if we commission the project with
those pipes they will end up bursting.
“We removed the pipes that were laid up in sections
where they may burst under pressure and we are now relaying them where they can
withstand the pressure. Yes there was an error on the initial technical team
which undertook the project but we have since rectified it,” said Karenyi.
He said they were waiting for the Zim Fund project to
deliver an assortment of steel pipes whilst council was selling some pieces of
land in order to raise the outstanding balance needed to complete the
Dangamvura water pipeline project.
“Council is supposed to raise over US$500 000 in order
to complete the project and so far has since raised US$155 000 which has been
disbursed. We have already resolved to sell some pieces of land so we can
finance the Dangamvura water project. Some people we sold land to have failed
to pay up due to Covid-19 which has affected many businesses.
“We are hoping that by April 2021 the Zim Fund project
should have delivered the steel pipes and council should have raised US $380
000 that we are left with. That is why we are now borrowing money since
government has approved our borrowing powers after the current management
managed to clear council arrears,” said Karenyi.
The Zim Fund Project, which is being administered by African
Development Bank, is running in local authorities which includes Chitungwiza,
Chegutu, Kwekwe, Masvingo and Mutare.
