Corruption leaves Masvingo trunk sewer project in limbo

Corruption and mismanagement within Masvingo City Council are hampering the city's development with some key projects like the Mucheke sewer trunk remaining in limbo for years.

In 2012, Masvingo City Council embarked on a multi-million extensive sewer overhaul programme involving the construction of a seven-kilometre trunk gravity pipeline to convey sewer from high-density suburbs and Victoria Range.

However, four years later, the project was put on hold when funding ran out.

Several efforts to revitalise the project over the years have hit a brick wall due to limited funding, according to the Masvingo City Council.

However, investigations by Southern Eye on Sunday revealed that corruption and mismanagement have stalled the project, which could have been the city's panacea to perennial burst sewers.

The Mucheke trunk sewer upgrade remains incomplete and abandoned, twelve years after the project started, and more than US$4 million has been lost in the bungled project.

• AMH investor forum to explore Zim opportunities
• Ex-convict arrested for killing rival suitor
• AMH investor forum to explore Zim opportunities
• Burombo flats rehabilitation to commence

Sporadic burst sewer pipes leading to poor sanitation and possibly waterborne diseases in the ancient city have been attributed to the council's poor waste management system.

“Can you imagine in this 21st century we are using blair toilets in town? We started staying here in 2012, but the house is not connected to the sewer system because of Mucheke trunk sewer system, which has not been completed,” said Roderick Ngoni a Victoria Ranch resident.

“We do not know when it will be completed or if it will ever be completed.

“What I think is that the council has failed us and we want the government to intervene so that the council can improve service delivery.”

In 2012, the council advertised a tender that was awarded to a Harare-based Mutual Construction.

 In the beginning, Masvingo City Council acquired a US$2,1 million loan from the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) to kick start the project before the local authority borrowed another US$1.7 million and US$900 000 from the same organisation.

The construction started and it was supposed to be finished within a year. However, the company is said to have removed all its equipment in 2014 from the project site after the works stopped in 2013, except for asbestos pipes that had been purchased from Turnall Holdings.

The following year, the council is alleged to have put a notice intending to borrow a further US$1.7 million for the continuation of the project with barely a quarter of the project completed.

Failure to complete the project as planned meant that the US$2,1 million loan that the council borrowed from NSSA vanished and the council paid US$1, 4 million in loan interest bringing the total loss to US$3, 5 million.

“The initial contract amount was $2 143 110, but an additional $900 000 was added for the completion of the project.

At that time, the $2 143 110 had not been exhausted but was not sufficient to complete the work.

"The additional $900 000 was again not sufficient to complete the project,” reads part of the October 2019 Auditor General’s Office report.

“The tender was manipulated and winners won based on offering the lowest prices. That is why it is said that cheap things cause a huge problem,” said a source.

A former councillor, who was serving when the Mucheke trunk sewer was implemented, said they were convinced that Mutual Construction could not deliver.

“And yes lots of money is being wasted on the trunk sewer with little or no progress on it.

“The management is the one to blame, not the councillors because the management is the one in charge of the trunk sewer.”.

Former Masvingo mayor who served between 2013 and 2018 Hubert Fidze, said there was nothing much which was done.

“The project was at a standstill. Upon inquiries by the council to the town clerk and management, they said the previous council awarded the tender to the lowest bidder, who could not complete the project,” he said.

“Moreso, with the projection of the geological specifications, there was some rock underneath which needed to be blasted this equally bringing the cost even higher.”

Town clerk Edward Mukaratirwa said he was on leave and could not comment.

“I am currently on leave,” he said before he hung up.

Masvingo mayor Alec Tabe said the project relied on funding from the government and council was waiting for the disbursement of devolution funds for the completion of the remaining 1.8km.

“The Mucheke trunk sewer project has been funded by devolution allocations money,”  Tabe said.

“So we are pleading with the government to disburse this year’s allocation so that we finish the project.

“There is no progress as it stands and it is making us appear like we do not care about Victoria Ranch.”

Meanwhile, Mukaratirwa is facing corruption charges after he allegedly authorised the procurement of a Toyota Prado VX-L instead of a Toyota Prado VX 3.0 engine.

The engine had been approved by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.

On the second count, prosecutors said Mukaratirwa misrepresented himself to the municipality by stating that a Toyota Hilux vehicle donated to the council had been allocated to him as part of his contract.

Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA) director Anoziva Muguti said corruption played a big role in the trunk sewer project stagnation.

“The initial contractor’s failure to complete the work despite being paid in full, coupled with the lack of recovery by council, raises suspicions,” Muguti said.

“The project’s continued stagnation under council’s management, despite new funding through devolution funds is concerning.

“Thorough investigation and audit would help uncover the root causes and ensure accountability.”

In 2022 the project was derailed after then  Local Government and Public Works minister July Moyo compelled all local authorities to channel devolution funds towards purchasing fire tenders from Belarus.

Masvingo City was classified as a metropolitan local authority and got three fire tenders to the tune of US$464 296.

In the 2022 proposed Masvingo council budget, the trunk sewer project is allocated ZW$100 million from devolution funds.

About US$4 million previously went down the drain on the trunk sewer project, without much having been done except for trenches that were dug and ended up being a health hazard to residents.

A lot of funds had been used on the trunk sewer project, with little progress, yet residents were once made to pay a sewer levy.

In a statement, Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (Cotrad) indicated that lots of money has been used on the Mucheke trunk sewer, but with no progress since it was started.

“Therefore, Cotrad acknowledges that the trunk sewer project requires all attention, and resources and is up there on the priority list,” Cotrad said.

“Resources have been, and continue to be poured into this project and there isnothing to show for it.