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Tinashe Makichi : Business Reporter

The African Development Bank has started rolling out projects under the Zimbabwe Multi Donor Trust Fund Phase Two. The phase two programme, which is expected to cost $58 million is targeting the power, water and sanitation sectors. Almost $35 million has been set aside for water and sanitation while about $23 million has been allocated for power.ZimFund manager Emmanuel Nzabanita said: “We have already started the implementation of the ZimFund phase two project where about $58 million has been allocated for water and electricity projects. Several towns are set to benefit from this programme.

“This comes following the success recorded in the phase one project which saw the completion of Hwange Ash Plant rehabilitation among other notable water and energy projects,” Mr Nzabanita told The Herald Business.

The AFDB was requested by donors to establish and administer the ZimFund facility. Under Phase One , the ZimFund managed to provide for Urgent Water Supply and Sanitation Rehabilitation Project Phase 1 in Mutare, Masvingo, Kwekwe, Chegutu, Harare, and Chitungwiza on the water side.

While Phase One focused more on restoring water and wastewater treatment capacity, the second phase places greater emphasis on improving both the water and sewerage network performance, strengthening commercial aspects and enhancing service delivery efficiency.

According to the AFDB, these contribute to successful non-revenue water management. Phase II will be implemented in Harare, Chitungwiza, Ruwa and Redcliff, serving an estimated population of 1,9 million people.

“The project seeks to protect public health through improvement of services. It also aims to preserve physical assets, resuscitate capacity and improve financial sustainability of water and sanitation service providers,” said Mr Nzabanita.

In addition to rehabilitation of water and sanitation infrastructure, the project will build capacity of service providers in operation and maintenance, enhancing sustainability. The interventions will be complemented with hygiene promotion, targeting the most vulnerable segment of the population. They will also support efforts of the local authorities to promote water conservation.

According to the AFDB, the size of the fund is determined by the willingness of development partners to contribute to it over time. To date, donors’ commitments to the ZimFund, in various currencies, add up to an equivalent of $144,5 million (excluding the funds allocated for phase two), out of which an actual amount of about $140,80 million has been released to the Fund’s account as at end November 2015.