Speaking at the handover ceremony of a state of the art ambulance and selected utility assets from China Machinery and Engineering Corporation at Town House in Harare this week, Chombo said the city council was embarking on the programme to repaint and revitalise city buildings.
“Expectations are that this programme will spread across town and will see all building owners repainting their buildings to spruce up the image of our city and government will follow suit.”
The ambulance and equipment, bought using part of the $144 million loan facility accessed from the China Exim Bank, is set to help capacitate council operations and save council millions of dollars.
The equipment, which includes a 35 ton crane, a 30 ton excavator, a 6 ton backhoe and state of the art ambulance is set to be deployed for maintenance operations – including excavations for water and sewer pipe replacement and lifting of equipment such as pumps, motors and valves.
“I am advised that the city has been hiring this equipment and spending in excess of $2 million annually,” said Chombo. “The three pieces of construction equipment should therefore bring immediate improvements in service delivery.”
Thomas Muzuva, Harare’s acting mayor, said council was pleased with the progress made in the implementation of the water and sewerage infrastructure under the $144 million loan facility.
“Council is now getting all the relevant information with regards the issues surrounding the implementation of the project,” said Muzuva.
“The committee was pleased with work and progress at the water plant after they visited Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant and Warren Control Pump station. It is this type of openness that this council needs because we need to speak about these issues from a position of authority and knowledge.”
Last year, a probe into the US$144 million loan facility opened a can of worms after it emerged that council management purchased 21 luxurious vehicles using the money.
Post published in: News