Lack of funding delays Mtshabezi pipeline rehab: Coltart

BULAWAYO mayor David Coltart has lamented lack of funding by government which he says is affecting rehabilitation of Mtshabezi pipeline aimed at being a stop-gap measure in resolving the water crisis in the city.

Coltart made the remarks during a council and media tour of Mzingwane and Inyankuni project sites on Friday.

Coltart said in April, he engaged Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, who promised to avail US$14 million to address the city’s short-term needs.

“I met the Minister of Finance in April and he promised that the city will receive US$14 million to address the city’s short-term needs, but after that meeting we received US$1,5 million in ZiG currency,” he said.

Coltart said they needed hard currency as most of the materials used were imported.

“Our plea is for the government to release the balance left from the money the minister promised. Some of the money we received has been used for Mzingwane and Inyankuni upgrading of pump stations,” he said.

Coltart said through the water technical committee, the Mzingwane boaster station would have new pumps installed.

“The Mzingwane Dam is empty and the upgrading of pump system will not help as they will be pumping nothing. The dam is at 2,3% capacity, hence there is need for installation of Mtshabezi pipeline, which will come upstream to Mzingwane pump station so that water can be easily pumped from the dam,” he said.

The mayor said currently, Insiza Dam was sitting at 40% capacity, but added that they were unable to utilise the water as the pipeline was crippled.

 “It is not working at full capacity and we need funds to install a pipeline so that we can utilise the water.

“Mzingwane, Lower and Upper Ncema are both going to be decommissioned in October. That means from October, we will be relying on Mtshabezi, Insiza and Inyankuni,” Coltart said.

“The reality is that the installation of new pumps at Inyankuni won’t help as the dam is at 22% capacity. The priority should be installation of Mtshabezi and Insiza pipeline, so we are in need of extra funds from the government to ameliorate the water crisis.”