Zimpapers Logo

Chronicle Reporter
THE Commissioning of the Mtshabezi water pipeline, which has missed deadline several   times, is hanging in the balance amid   revelations the project might be completed mid next year.

Bulawayo residents have expressed frustration over delays in the commissioning of the project that is viewed as the medium-term solution to the city’s perennial water woes.
Mtshabezi Dam’s capacity is 56 million cubic metres of water which can go a long way in augmenting Bulawayo’s water supplies.
Water Resources Development and Management Minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo yesterday told Bulawayo  councillors during a meeting on outstanding water projects that the pipe link project would not be commissioned this year.

This is despite the numerous promises he made throughout the year that the 42km pipe link project would be completed before the end of the year.
The project was initially scheduled to be completed in March before its deadline was shifted to September and then to December this year.
Although Minister Nkomo said the project was almost 90 percent complete he said there was a need to build a booster pump station first.

He said the booster pump, which needs to be electrified, would pump water to the reservoir before it is taken to Ncema Water Works.
“The earliest the commissioning of the pipeline can be done is mid next year.
“We need to build a pump house that will  take water from the dam to the reservoir.   Initially Zesa charged us $5 million for connecting power before revising the figure to around $2 million.

“However, we had a problem with the State Procurement Board (SPB), which ordered us to invite tenders for the project,” said Minister Nkomo.
Minister  Nkomo said a Bulawayo company  won the tender and was in the process of ordering the required materials for the project.
“Without that connection we cannot get the water. We have done our part and I urge Bulawayo residents to be patient,” he said.

The pipe link connects Mtshabezi Dam and Umzingwane, which is one of Bulawayo’s supply dams.
Turning to the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project, Minister  Nkomo insisted that the contractor in charge of the project would move to the site before the end of the year.
He said the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) was in charge of the project and work will resume next year.-The Chronicle