THE Municipality of Gwanda has set tone on refurbishing its water treatment plant, in
a move that will enhance service delivery and ensure adequate water supply to the
residents of the mining town, The Mayor Councillor Thulani Moyo, said.
The stride aimed at fighting water shortages and curb the spread of cholera and
other water-borne diseases is currently underway and is expected to be completed
during the first quarter of 2024.
In July 2022, ZINWA (Zimbabwe National Water Authority) handed over the
treatment plant to Gwanda after the Government intervention when the two
authorities were locked in an ownership wrangle.
Initially the plant had a carrying capacity of 10 000 cubic metres but this was reduced
to 5 000 cubic metres as a result of pollution due to poor service.
Gwanda is currently battling with a deficit of 6 000 cubic metre in supplies due to the
dilapidated water treatment plant, worsened by load-shedding.
In an interview Cllr Moyo assured that water was his council’s main priority this year.
We have realised that our towns population is increasing due to rural-urban
migration and our plant is currently producing only 5 000 cubic metres, due to its
sorry state. We have a deficit of 6000 cubic metres. We are currently refurbishing
our water treatment plant to meet the consumption demand.
With the government’s intervention we inherited the plant from ZINWA and it was
already in a bad state with its carrying capacity depressed, but the population is
increasing, he said.
Moyo also hinted that devolution funds will also be channelled to the water issue, as
it is a matter of urgency.
We have engaged Blanket Mine and other private players in our quest to refurbish
the water treatment plant. For our plant to be fully functional we should also buy
pumps. I am quite sure that our developmental-oriented Government will assist us.
With devolution funds, we will channel these to address water challenges, said Cllr
Moyo.
His council wants to assure that water reaches every corner of Gwanda without
hindrance, especially in public areas like hospitals and schools.
It is council’s mandate to ensure that water is accessible to its residents and we
should reach every doorstep. We have Gwanda Provincial Hospital and Gwanda Old
People's home, which both critically need water. It is our vision that the rate payer
enjoys our service delivery, said Cllr Moyo.
Cllr Moyo said the council is working to update its billing system and ensure
residents conserve water diligently.
We also noted flaws in our billing system, which demotivated residents to pay their
water bills. Currently, our billing system is being revised. We have engaged
experienced technocrats to improve the billing system, said Cllr Moyo.
Due to growth and expansion of the mining town, the council is also considering
construction of another water treatment plant, as part of its strategy towards attaining
city status.
Cllr Moyo said he was determined to turn fortunes for Gwanda residents, so that they
in turn can begin to pay their bills on time.
For our 2024 vision to bear fruits, we urge residents to pay their bills because all our
projects need financial support. As council, we are on a massive drive to create
projects that will self-sustain our town, to beef-up our on-going development, he
explained.
The Municipality of Gwanda is currently engaging local banks, mines, business
community and relevant stakeholder as part of its modernisation drive. The
Municipality has opened a forum for people who have developmental proposals.
