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Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
CHINHOYI Municipality officials are set to meet the investor that was chosen to undertake a $22 million water augmentation project after the local authority had threatened to terminate the tender. The local authority had become impatient with the contractor after failing to implement the project within agreed timelines.

However, the contractor has now indicated intentions to meet with the council to discuss further details about the deal which would more than double the town’s water supplies. Chinhoyi Mayor Councillor Test Michaels confirmed the latest developments, adding that a concrete position on the project would be taken after the meeting.

“The company (Southern Region Trading) recently reached out to council, requesting for a meeting where issues to do with the project will be discussed,” he said.

“We were considering terminating the contract, but after the request for dialogue, it is necessary that we engage and map the way forward. We need to find out what they have to say and match it with our expectations.”

Initially, the project, which was set to be completed by June this year, would have doubled capacity from the 16 mega litres per day to 30 mega litres.

The second phase of the project was expected to eventually boost capacity by a further 10 mega litres per day.

Southern Region Trading had, however, indicated that it was finding it difficult to access foreign currency to source some of the materials required for the project.

Clr Michaels said delays in implementing the project had caused uneasiness within council, with councillors recommending the termination of the deal.

Under the agreement, Southern Region Trading was expected to supply water meters, expand the town’s water treatment plants and reticulation system.

The scope also includes extending clarifiers and constructing an additional reservoir. At least 300 water meters were supposed to be installed under the pilot phase of the project before universal roll out.

The $22 million project was expected to supply water to more than 100 000 residents and provide 24-hour running water in high-lying areas such as parts of Mzari, Orange Grove, Cherima and Brundish. These areas receive limited water supplies.

New housing projects such as Ruvimbo, Rujeko and Mapako were the most affected. The reticulation system used the gravitational system, which left distribution skewed in favour of low-lying areas.