Mayor Ivory Matanhire told The Zimbabwean her municipality had been failing to cope with demand for water as the population had grown beyond the capacity of the current infrastructure.
“The water reticulation for Bindura was meant for 10,000 people but the population has increased to 69,000. We only have two reservoirs. The grant will enable us to improve service delivery, operational efficiency and cost recovery. Bindura hospital is only receiving running tap water for two hours every day,” she said.
Matanhire said people living in high density areas and at the furthest ends of the distribution system were not getting sufficient water due to leakages, low pressure and intermittent power supply.
“If you go to Chipadze you will be shocked at how the residents have been surviving as they have no running water. This is one of the areas heavily affected by cholera in 2009. Though boreholes were installed in the area they are not enough and Chipadze is our main area of concern,” said the mayor.
The new small towns programme is modelled on the $40 million Emergency Rehabilitation and Risk Reduction Programme rolled out following the cholera outbreak in 2009.
Other small towns that benefited include Chipinge, Chiredzi, Chivhu,Gokwe, Gwanda, Hwange, Karoi, Mutoko, Mvurwi, Plumtree, Rusape ,Shurugwi and Zvishavane.
Post published in: News