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Midlands Correspondent
GWERU City Council has lined up infrastructural development and service deliver projects worth about US$ 200 million to be undertaken this year to improve service delivery.

In his first quarter budget review statement issued last week, the city’s finance director Mr Owen Masimba said they were working on various developmental projects worth about $ 200 million some of which have already commenced.

Some of the major projects include US$115 215 000 water and sanitation infrastructure upgrading and rehabilitation to be sponsored by Chinese engineering company China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC).

Mr Masimba said the local authority had also submitted a layout plan for the extension of the central business district to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for approval.

The local authority has also identified a partner for its US$10 million Midlands State University students’ accommodation facilities in Senga and a state-of-the-art shopping mall.

“We have various projects that we are planning to undertake this year as council.

We have an update of the progress on planned major capital projects and status. Some of the planned projects include procurement of new high lift pumps at Gwenoro our major water source which will cost about US$ 1 855 000,” he said.

“We have already signed a contract for that. We are also procuring low lift pumps at the same water source for US$1,7 million.

“We are also going to introduce smart water meters and we expect the project to cost US$ 12 million. We are also going to introduce an electronic prepaid parking system.

This will be a joint venture. We are going to install parking management software at an estimated cost of US$1,3 million. All the planned projects have a total cost of $198 091 703,” he said.

Mr Masimba said the local authority would soon start servicing Mkoba 21 stands after an expression of interests by a partner. The project is expected to cost US$ 23 million.

He said council was still grappling to service its debt of US$ 58 million up from $ 57 million.

Mr Masimba said on the other hand it was also owed $64 million by defaulting clients.

“We have made some achievements since the beginning of the year. We purchased three refuse trucks and we expect them next week.

We cleared a $500 000 overdraft with a local bank that has been saddling the city for years,” he said.

“Debtors fell from just over $ 65 million to just above $ 64 million shedding a total of $1 064 140. Creditors marginally increased from $ 57 million to $ 58 million. There is a world class Holiday Inn Hotel Express construction project.”