Zimpapers Logo

will access the US$145 million China Import and Export Bank (EXIM Bank) loan.
Mr Tsvangirai, who was recently in China on Government business that included lobbying for the release of the loan to Harare, made the remarks during a tour of the city’s sewer treat­ment plant at Firle.
“I can assure you that funds would be made available to complete the plant,” he said.
The release of the loan has been delayed because of Government’s fail­ure to pay interest on a loan advanced to the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Com­pany, now NewZim Steel, in 1997.
“Once released, the loan is expected to boost water production and improve sewer management. A poorly managed water and sewer system results in outbreaks of diseases such as cholera and typhoid,” he said.
PM Tsvangirai, who was shown the progress made in upgrading the plant, was not happy that at one time the water and sewer management were transferred to Zinwa.
He said it was unfortunate that water and sewer management were temporarily transferred to an institu­tion that lacked capacity.
He said politicians should desist from politicising service delivery mat­ters.
“The country fails to move forward because at times we take decisions, which are not related to present chal­lenges,” he said.
He expressed satisfaction with the rehabilitation of the plant, which was now operating at 50 percent capacity up from zero three years ago.
By next week the plant will be work­ing at 63 percent. PM Tsvangirai said it was unfortunate that in this day and age people still die of cholera and typhoid.
Earlier Harare Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda had lobbied PM Tsvangirai to prevail over Finance Minister Tendai Biti to pay the interest on the 1997 loan.
“I appeal to the Prime Minister to talk to Minister Biti to pay the US$5 million interest required by Exim Bank to release the US$145 million loan. We risk losing the loan,” he said.
Harare Water director Eng Christo­pher Zvobgo, said the Chinese loan will be used to complete the work at the plant and at Crowborough among other water and sewer works.
Sidal Engineering director Engineer Sydney Hambira and Energy Resources Africa chief executive Engi­neer Dave Mashayamombe gave updates of the work done already and what remains to be done.
Their presentations showed that additional funding was required to complete the rehabilitation of the plant. Eng Mashayamombe said the sewer plant will soon be powered by electricity generated from methane gas. The gas plant produces electricity enough to power 4 000 housing units without load shedding.
Ability to treat over half the sewer means that less raw sewer will be dis­posed into the Mukuvisi River and subsequently result in the usage of fewer water treatment chemicals.
Treating the sewer removes nutri­ents such as nitrates and phosphates that act as fertilisers to weeds like hyacinth which deplete water resources.