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Sen Mahofa

George Maponga Masvingo Bureau
Masvingo City Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese firm, China CAMC Engineering Company, that will pave way for the multi-million-dollar upgrade of its sewerage treatment plant.

The plant is now very old as it was commissioned in 1972. The MoU was signed on Thursday. The planned upgrade will double the plant’s capacity to 42 megalitres per day.

In 2013, Masvingo upgraded its water pumping system at a cost of $60 million. Under the sewer upgrade deal, China CAMC Engineering Company will source funding for the project from Chinese financial institutions with the loan being guaranteed by the Government of Zimbabwe. The loan for the sewer upgrade will be repaid over a period of between 15 and 20 years.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the MoU, Masvingo provincial affairs Minister Senator Shuvai Mahofa hailed the development as a milestone that would go a long way in making sure that the province met its Zim-Asset targets.

“Successful completion of the sewer upgrade exercise in Masvingo city with the assistance of the Chinese will no doubt further stimulate economic development in Masvingo and also help the province fulfil some of its goals set under Zim-Asset,’’ she said.

“I also want to pay special tribute to Masvingo City Council for not resting on their laurels by continuously running around to make sure that service delivery to residents of Masvingo is not compromised.’’

China CAMC Engineering company country representative Mr Wang Kailong said his country and Zimbabwe had a long-standing relationship. He said his company has been in Zimbabwe since 2002 and had undertaken projects worth nearly $58 million especially in agriculture.

Masvingo town clerk Mr Adolph Gusha said the signing of the MoU will see a team of engineers from China CAMC Engineering and those from Masvingo City Council meeting to establish the technical and financial aspects of the project.