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Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
THE $4 million Redcliff municipality water and sewer rehabilitation programme is back on track following Government intervention.

The grant for the rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation systems for the local authority availed by Zimbabwe Multi Donor Trust Fund in 2016 has been hanging in the balance, amid allegations that the sub-contractor — Drawcard — was failing to implement the project.

As a result, Redcliff municipality has been forced to discharge effluent into streams daily, posing a serious health hazard for its residents while residents have been experiencing water challenges, which forced some to resort to unprotected water sources.

In an interview yesterday, Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo, said the million dollar programme was back on course.

“The rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation for Redcliff municipality is now on course following consultations with the sub-contractor and the municipality,” he said.

“The sub-contractor is going ahead to implement what was agreed on and I will be visiting the town to check on progress because we need improved water supplies and sanitation for the residents of Redcliff.”

Minister Moyo is also Zanu-PF candidate for Redcliff constituency.

The local authority, according to Engineer Thembani Kundhlande, had written to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, detailing their displeasure at the slow pace Drawcard was moving to complete the tender.

“We had written to the Ministry of Local Government expressing our displeasure at Drawcard which has failed to honour its part of the tender,” said Eng Kundhlande.

Zimbabwe Multi Donor Trust Fund availed a $4 million grant for the rehabilitation of Redcliff municipality water supply and sanitation systems and a contractor Drawcard won the tender.

Redcliff municipality then handed over four sewer treatment plants to Drawcard and it was supposed to have completed the rehabilitation works by December last year.

The tender given to Drawcard involves pipe replacement of critical sections in the water distribution system including 2,3km of 250mm diameter corroded steel pipes on a supply pipeline to Torwood, which can no longer deliver water.

These are supposed to be replaced with PVC pipes.

On the sewerage side, corroded steel sewer pipes are supposed to be dismantled and replaced.

Sewer ponds are also supposed to be rehabilitated. In December last year, Redcliff mayor councillor Fred Kapuya said there has been no progress at all besides numerous demonstrations by Drawcard workers over non-payment of their salaries.