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AfDB to give Bulawayo council $37m grant

Business
THE African Development Bank (AfDB) is finalising a $37 million grant to the Bulawayo City Council for water supply and sanitation projects, latest council minutes have shown.

THE African Development Bank (AfDB) is finalising a $37 million grant to the Bulawayo City Council for water supply and sanitation projects, latest council minutes have shown.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

Bulawayo has been facing perennial water shortages, which have been attributed to increasing demand.

At the height of the crisis, the city was forced to introduce 96 hours of water rationing every week. The last dam to be built was commissioned in 1976. Since then, no dam has been built to correspond with the city’s increasing population.

According to the council’s latest report, if approved by the bank’s board, the project would be implemented over a period of 48 months, between January 2016 and December 2019.

“The AfDB is finalising the project proposal and council has been tasked with the following deliverables: to identify a dedicated team of staff who will work on the project for the next four years, to compile and finalise the TORs (terms of reference) for the project technical and procurement experts — who shall be hired by City of Bulawayo for the duration of the project to the bank’s conditions,” reads part of the minutes.

The government and council will contribute 10% of the project in cash or in kind, according to the minutes. Council has been working with the AfDB to develop a four year $37,07 million water and sanitation proposal since February this year. This being the fruits of the Water and Waste Water Master Plan, which a few years was submitted to the same bank, according to the council.

A team from the city council has been working, in conjunction with the bank, to develop the proposal, which was presented to the Ministry of Finance on the September 10, 2015 in Harare.

The city needs a long term reliable water supply in the context of a growing population and expansion, with new suburbs being established and a growing demand for water from anticipated industrial growth.

The AfDB sent its team to Zimbabwe in March and held discussions with the ministries of Finance and Economic Development, Environment, Water and Climate, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority.