THE Zimbabwe Multi Donor Trust Fund’s (Zimfund) water, sanitation and energy projects are expected to be complete by the first quarter of 2014, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has reported.
Victoria Mtomba,Business Reporter
Zimfund is a fund that is administered by the AfDB on behalf of donors with $125 million and it’s a short-term infrastructure development programme that supports economic recovery by improving the lives of ordinary citizens.
Zimfund manager Emmanuel Nzabanita said the energy power projects would increase reliability, quality and availability of water in the country.
Nzabanita said a total of $36 million for water and sanitation has been approved while $33 million has been approved for energy projects.
“Ultimately, the power project will improve environmental management at the Hwange Power Station, enhancing the reliability of power transmission and improving the distribution infrastructure in the country,” he said.
“It will also help to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that currently result from extensive tree felling for firewood, addressing system inefficiencies and frequent power failures in urban households. Through this project, power transmission and distribution losses will be reduced due to rehabilitated and upgraded equipment, hence system efficiency will increase.”
The emergency power infrastructure rehabilitation project focuses on rehabilitating the Ash Plant at the Hwange Power Station and several sub-transmission and distribution facilities in Atlanta (Murehwa), Criterion and Mpopoma (Bulawayo), Gweru, Kadoma, Marvel (Bulawayo), Mazowe, Norton, Pomona (Harare), Redcliff, Sherwood (Kwekwe), Victoria Falls, Zisco (Redcliff), Zvishavane and various electricity-distribution facilities throughout the country.
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“To date, three works contracts, valued at $34,54 million, have been awarded. These cover the rehabilitation of infrastructure at generation (namely the Hwange Power Station), transmission and distribution network,” Nzabanita said.
“These contracts are at various stages of execution. Three consultancy and project management services contracts, to the tune of $2,68 million, have also been awarded and these are also at various stages of implementation. A contract for environmental monitoring and capacity-building at Hwange Power Station as well as the environmental audit are currently being carried out. Works are expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2014.”
Meanwhile, government is inviting tenders for the procurement of servers and related database software for government departments valued at $16 million.
AfDB reported in a statement recently that the country received a grant from the financial institution towards the cost of capacity building, public finance and economic management projects.
“It is intended that part of the proceeds of this grant to cover eligible payments under the contract of the supply and installation of servers and related database software for public finance management system,” the statement reads.
The procurements of the computers and equipment is expected next year.
The funds are expected to be used for the procurement of computer equipment, computers, server and other information technology-related equipment.
