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George Maponga in Masvingo
Plans by Masvingo City to complete the US$2,1 million sewer trunk-line project, using a loan from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) have suffered a stillbirth after the parties failed to agree on repayment modalities.

Council hoped to finance construction of the 7km-long sewer pipeline from Runyararo West suburb to the city’s main sewer line using a loan secured from NSSA.

The city intended to offset the loan using residential stands.

However, the deal hit a snag after council dismissed NSSA’s demand of about 500 residential stands “unfavourable”.

Over 12 000 new homes in Victoria Ranch suburb were dependent on the deal. Residents of Victoria Ranch currently rely on ecosan toilets that are providing temporary relief while council and land developers work on the sewer project.

The ecosan toilet is a closed system that does not need water

Mayor, Councillor Collins Maboke yesterday said the sewer trunk-line project was now hanging in the balance after they failed to agree with NSSA on repayment of the sewer project loan.

Clr Maboke hinted council was now contemplating going back to the drawing board over the project.

‘‘At the moment I can safely say there is no progress on the sewer trunk-line project because council felt that NSSA’s demands were just too much in return for the loan they were going to give us,’’ he said.

‘‘Council felt that the number of residential stands which NSSA wanted from council in return for the loan was just too much. If council could develop and sell the stands in question its coffers could be significantly boosted; so I think for now the NSSA deal is no longer on the table.’’

The Masvingo mayor, however, said he remained optimistic of a breakthrough in the sewer project which has stalled since 2012.

The previous MDC dominated city council was under fire a few years ago for allegedly awarding the sewer project contract to a company without capacity.

The contractor, Mutual Contracting, abandoned the project midway alleging exhaustion of funds after the firm had deliberately underbid the project in order to win it.

Work on the project stopped five years and council hoped NSSA would throw a financial lifeline.