The Sunday News
Sibonginkosi Mpofu, Sunday News Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority has postponed the completion of Lupane water reticulation system project due to shortage of foreign currency to import critical equipment.
The project was initially expected to end in January this year. In an e-mailed response to Sunday News, Zinwa spokesperson Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said price distortions were also contributing to the delays.
“Fuel shortages have been intermittent for more than three months, affecting the usage of critical machinery on site that requires high volumes of diesel on a normal day.
“Contractors have to wait for weeks to get materials because the stocking levels of building materials from suppliers are generally low due to the current economic challenges.
“The price distortions are also making it difficult for the contractor to order materials as prices are changing on a monthly and sometimes weekly basis,” she said.
Mrs Munyonga said the project was now 92 percent complete with the main components of the work now 100 percent complete or nearing completion. She said the outstanding eight percent was generally minor works, finishes and non-critical activities not on the project critical path.
“However, the challenges encountered have been dealt with. Negotiations with service stations have yielded bulk amounts of fuel supply especially now that some service stations have readily available fuel for US$ purchases.
“Most of the material has now been imported from South Africa and the bulk of the material is now on site and work is progressing well.
“The procurement of material in foreign currency has eased the price distortions burden and invoices are no longer being frequently amended,” said Mrs Munyonga.
Lupane acting town’s secretary Mr Freedom Sibanda said apart from the water project, there were also other projects underway in the town.
He said they were working on constructing a civic centre that will mainly house offices.
The council also gave out 7 200 square metres of land to the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) for the construction of student accommodation that will ease the pressure of accommodation at Lupane State University.
