The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
GOVERNMENT has allocated more than $4 billion for development of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) programmes in urban and local authorities.
Presenting the 2022 national budget last Thursday, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said aging infrastructure coupled with increasing population, as well as rural-urban migration have necessitated the need for Government to urgently invest in new water supply sources and sewer infrastructure both in rural and urban areas.
He said this entails the need to rehabilitate and upgrade the existing water supply and sewer infrastructure in major cities. One of the cities with obsolete water and sewer infrastructure is Victoria Falls and as a result the local authority faces perennial water challenges.
Victoria Falls is courting investors for implementation of a US$15 Wash which will result in an overhaul of the whole water and sewer system. Treasury has allocated $33 million to Victoria Falls City Council in the 2022 budget for construction of a new treatment plant and water tank and the local authority will have access to $176 million conditional grants.
Prof Ncube said a number of projects were ongoing and planned for 2022 under the Integrated Approach to Water Supply Development, whose strategic objective is to ensure access to portable water and sanitation coverage, as well as improving availability of water for agriculture purposes.
“To this end, the 2022 National Budget conditional grants of $2.1 billion will be availed to the following urban and rural local authorities. Government has also prioritised water supply for small towns and growth points as part of measures to ensure balanced development, stimulate economic activity and development. The 2022 National Budget has, therefore, allocated $928 million targeting revamping of water supply schemes for the settlements indicated in the table below,” said Prof Ncube.
The urban authorities that will benefit from conditional grants are Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Victoria Falls, Mutare, Masvingo, Gwanda, Chinhoyi, Kwekwe, Mvurwi, Redcliff and Chipinge. Rural authorities include Mutoko Rural District Council, Murehwa, Buhera, Pfura, Chikomba, Zvimba, Gutu, Mhondoro, Ngezi and Chirumanzu.
Prof Ncube said recurring droughts and floods, coupled with the Covid-19 pandemic have underlined the challenges facing communities in accessing both water and sanitation services. He said small towns and growth points will get $1.9 billion for Wash programmes.
“In line with the thrust of accelerating resilient and sustainable access to Wash services, the 2022 National Budget has provision of ZWL$1.9 billion towards restoration of basic water and sanitation services for underserviced areas and communities. — @ncubeleon
