The city needs $13 million to upgrade its sewage system to meet international standards, a top official has said. Obert Muzawazi told journalists during a press club meeting that the current water and reticulation system could not meet the demand of the city`s ballooning population and there was need for an urgent overhaul.
by Marcus Tawona
He said the current system was built in 1897 during the colonial era to meet the needs of an urban minority, however, the population grew extensively following independence. “For us to have a constant water supply we need a complete overhaul. We need to improve our storage capacity to cater for the growing population,” said Muzawazi.
He said the $3 million the local authority had received from the central government for the rehabilitation of water and sewer system had already been spent.
Muzawazi said the council was currently working on a $5, 5 million budget to avert the acute shortage of water in some city suburbs.