Dangamvura pipeline by year end

31 Jul, 2020 - 00:07 0 Views
Dangamvura pipeline by year end Mutare Town Clerk, Mr Joshua Maligwa (left) and Mutare City Council Mayor, Councillor Blessing Tandi (centre) receive the first consignment of water pipes for the Dangamvura water project while Mutare City Health Director Dr Anthony Mutara looks on early this week. — Picture by Tinai Nyadzayo

The ManicaPost

Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter

MUTARE City Council has taken delivery of pipes that will be used in the Dangamvura water project, with officials optimistic that the project will be completed by end of this year.

The long-awaited pipes are worth more than US$450 000 and were imported from South Africa.

The project was supposed to have been completed more than 10 years ago, but the local authority was fleeced of US$330 000 by a bogus Harare-based company that failed to deliver the pipes after receiving payment.

Several council employees and a councillor who chaired the procurement committee were fired back then for receiving bribes to facilitate payment without observing due diligence.

Town Clerk, Mr Joshua Maligwa said the long wait for the pipes is over and installation of the pipes is expected to be complete by year end.

“Our December 31 target is still achievable. We just hope that by end of August, the excavation of the Dangamvura pipeline will be in full swing.”

He said the local authority has since started recruiting manpower for the project as well as mobilising additional financial resources to the tune of US$450 000 to carry out construction work and procure additional materials.

“We are excited to announce that the first batch of GR pipes for the Dangamvura pipeline is now here in Mutare.

“The first batch is composed of two truckloads, with each truck carrying 50 pipes which are 400mm in diameter. This is part of the US$450 000 consignment that was funded by the African Development Bank under the ZimFund programme.

“This project was supposed to have been concluded long back, but council lost US$330 000 through a dubious company which fleeced the city and residents,” he said.

“Our engineers are now in the process of coming up with a programme. They will do some adjustments on the cost of carrying out the works in line with the financial landscape. “The team is ready, we have already started recruiting personnel to work on the project. We need technical staff to compliment the ones we have. We also need general hands.

“Apart from the pipes, we are also expecting a tractor and a trailer which will assist us in the overall excavation.

Mr Maligwa acknowledged that the delay in the water project has seen residents enduring acute water shortages.

“During one of our budget consultative meetings on Tuesday, residents were urging the city to end the water challenges in the suburb. We are happy that the pipes have finally arrived.

Mr Maligwa said when completed, the Dangamvura water pipeline will be a game-changer.

“That pipeline is the lifeline of our future expansion to the southern side of the city. Dangamvura is another city on its own because it has grown big. If we combine Dangamvura with the extended housing projects that are being done by Mutare Rural District Council, you will see that this now a big suburb.

“Add to this Fern Valley, Johanne Marange Housing Project, Natal Construction, and Manicaland State University. The water pipeline was long overdue.

“Four housing projects will be serviced by that pipeline via the Dangamvura water reservoir,” he said.

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