Water pipeline to Bulawayo takes off

Harare (New Ziana)-A South African company, Flowtite and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa)on Monday signed a contract for the supply of US$50 million worth of glass reinforcement pipes to be used to transport water from Gwayi- Shangani Dam to Bulawayo.

Under the contract, Flowtite will supply the pipes and fittings as well as training Zinwa civil engineering staff.

Speaking at the event, Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development chief director Engineer Tinayeshe Mutazu commended the government for releasing funds for the project.

“We are grateful for the commitment made by the government through the treasury to ensure that this project takes off.

“What has been done today is to operationalise the component of the project. Our expectation as government is that the quality of piping must be top standard,” he said.

He said the Government through ZINWA had already engaged 11 companies to lay the 252km long pipeline from Gwayi- Shangani Dam to Bulawayo to ensure the water is pumped to the city by the end of the year.

“As central government, our target for commissioning, this project remains,” he said.

The project consists of three parts, construction of the dam which is currently underway and construction of the 252km long pipeline to draw water from the dam to Bulawayo and another pipeline from Zambezi to local communities.

Zinwa chief executive officer Eng Taurai Maurukira was excited that the pipeline project would now take off.

“This project is now becoming a reality and it’s going to be a game changer. It will see the transportation of water from the Zambezi through the Gwayi -Shangani Dam to Bulawayo City and the communities along the pipeline.

“The contract will see Flowtite of South Africa supplying pipes to cover the entire pipeline of252 km. 52 percent of the pipes will come from SA while a partnership with a local firm will produce the remainder,” he said.

Flowtite general manager Bantu Mselama said the company would ensure completion of the pipeline by the end of the year.

“We have been working since last year to make sure that from our side we can fulfil everything from the construction, engineering, logistics and all the other areas. We will ensure that by the end of 2022, the project is delivered in line with government objectives, “he said.

Construction of the Gwayi- Shangani Dam is among the government’s major priorities and is expected to address perennial water shortages in Bulawayo by the end of 2022.
New Ziana