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Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
ZIMCOKE (Pvt) Limited who recently took over a coking plant within Ziscosteel, are set to inject $5 million to Redcliff Municipality for water reticulation.

Operations at the coking plant are expected to commence early next year after finalisation of the $133 million deal between the company and Government.

Part of the deal entails ZimCoke assisting the cash -strapped local authority, which has a perennial water problem, with water reticulation services as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Clayton Masiyatsva, confirmed that the company was set to inject the money into the financially hamstrung local authority.

“Part of the agreement between the company and Government was that it should assist in water rehabilitation so that operations are not disturbed. We are yet to receive the funding but I am confident that once they conclude the talks with Government, we will receive the money,” he said.

Clr Masiyatsva said the money would be channelled towards settling a $3 million debt they owe Kwekwe City Council for water supply as well as repair pumps.

“As you know, we owe Kwekwe City about $3 million for water supply. So the money will go a long way in settling the bill and also rehabilitate their pumps in the view that it would be easier for them to supply us with water,” said Cllr Masiyatsva.

The local authority recently abandoned a $15 million water reticulation programme at Cactus Dam after feasibility studies revealed some anomalies at the water body.

Clr Masiyatsva said the development has left them with no option but to fund the rehabilitation of the Kwekwe City pumps.

“We are tied down by the latest development after we resolved to abandon the Cactus Dam project.

“While we hunt for an alternative, we will fund the rehabilitation of pumps at Dutchman’s Pool in Kwekwe so that supplying us with water will become easier,” he said.

Redcliff has been seeking a long lasting solution to the perennial water shortages that hit the town since the folding up of operations at steel giant, Ziscosteel. Since then, the local authority has been relying on Kwekwe City Council for water supplies.