via AfDB to commission reservoir in Mutare – NewsDay Zimbabwe February 25, 2015 by Tarisai Mandizha
A water reservoir built through a $9,10 million Africa Development Bank (AfDB) facility, is expected to be commissioned in Mutare tomorrow, Finance and Economic Development minister Patrick Chinamasa has said.
Chinamasa told a press briefing with executive directors from the AfDB in Harare on Monday that the reservoir was expected to help ease the water problems in Mutare.
He added that the visiting delegation will pay a courtesy call on President Robert Mugabe on Friday.
AFDB Zimbabwe Multi-Donor Trust Fund (Zim-Fund) manager Emmanuel Nzabanita said the Chikanga Water Reservoir was partially constructed but the works were abandoned in 2002.
“The reservoir, with a capacity of 10 000 m3 is an essential element in the water supply system of Mutare as completion of the work will provide the much needed water to nearly 7% of the Mutare population per day that currently have acute water shortages,” Nzabanita said.
“The tank has been completed. Currently, work being finalised includes testing pipe installations, incoming and outgoing pipelines and joints, site works and drainage. Commissioning of the tank is expected by end of February 2015.”
He said $43,1 million has been allocated to the AFDB’s Zimfund phase 1 of the Urgent water supply and sanitation rehabilitation project (UWSSRP) which was designed to cover urgent rehabilitation works to the water supply and sanitation systems in Harare, Chitungwiza, Chegutu, Kwekwe , Masvingo and Mutare.
Nzabanita said the project was aimed at providing urgent support for restoration and stabilisation of water supply and sanitation services in the beneficiary municipalities and improve service delivery in the project areas.
AfDB is in the country to assess the impact of bank projects in the country and is also set to visit Mozambique from March 28 to April 4 on the same mission.
The visits were focussing on projects in natural resources management
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