The Sunday News
Sukoluhle Ndlovu, Midlands Correspondent
ZVISHAVANE Town Council has engaged Shabanie-Mashava Mines (SMM) seeking to write-off the mine’s $14 million debt in exchange for resuscitation and use of the mine’s Runde water pump station to increase water supplies in the mining town.
In an interview last week, town council chairperson, Councillor Khulekani Ndlovu said his council was proposing to write off SMM $14 million debt in exchange for the use of Runde water pump station.
“We have engaged Shabanie-Mashava Mines with a proposal to write off the company’s $14 million debt in exchange of the use of Runde water pump station.
“The deal is still on the negotiating table and nothing concrete has come out for now. Our offer as the council is to offset the company’s debt in exchange for use of the pump station,” he said.
Clr Ndlovu said if successful, the deal will result in increased potable water supply in the mining town, which is constantly affected by water woes.
“The success of this deal will result in increased water supplies to our town, which will be a huge relief considering water shortages we are faced with,” he said.
Clr Ndlovu said the town’s ageing water system can barely sustain the pressure exerted by the fast growing population.
“Due to mining activities and the opening of the Midlands State University (MSU), our population is fast growing and the old water system cannot sustain the pressure. The system, therefore, needs to be changed to sustain the pressure,” he said.
Clr Ndlovu said the local authority intends to build water reservoirs in suburbs that are most hit by water shortages.
“We want to construct water reservoirs to avert water crises especially in residential areas like Eastlea, Isaiah Park and Lot 4 because these areas do not have constant water supply,” he said.
The mining town is owed more that $40 million by residents and companies in unpaid water, rates and rentals services.
