<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Gweru" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gweru</a> City Council has started consultations with businesses and residents with a $500 million budget having been proposed for the year 2020.
This was revealed by acting finance director, Owen Masimba, who also disclosed that the local authority faces a deficit of over $20 million after the 2019 budget was eroded by inflation. He said:
<blockquote>The proposal is also premised on the fact that not much has been achieved under the 2019 budget and as such it is a standstill budget which is being rolled over by factoring movements in the costs of building upon the various service line items.
… as of today (yesterday), a single cylinder of chlorine costs at $75 000 and just imagine we have been operating with a 2019 budget which was approved in 2018 so we have a serious budget overrun.</blockquote>
<a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/gweru-faces-potential-water-crisis-as-gwenhoro-dams-falls-to-18/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gweru has of late been facing water challenges</a> due to the depletion of its main water reservoir, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Gwenhoro_Dam" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gwenhoro Dam</a>. As a result, the City Fathers intend to buy high-level water pumps for the Amapongobwe Water Project.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/gweru-proposes-rtgs-500m-budget/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

Pindula News

Gweru City Council Proposes $500 Million Budget For 2020

Minister of Local Government, July Moyo, said that the government has resolved that water pumping stations and sewerage reticulation systems should be exempted from rolling power cuts to safeguard public health.
Minister Moyo made the revelation last week while responding to questions from MPs on what the government was doing to guarantee water provision amid load shedding. He said:
<blockquote>Yes, there have been water shortages because of electricity outages in pumping stations in most of our urban areas.
Two weeks ago, we agreed with the Minister of Energy and Power Development, and we were given all the pumping stations throughout the country which include those run by ZINWA, and some which are run by local authorities.
These pumping stations for water as well as for sewerage should not experience these power cuts because it is both a health hazard as well as a need for people to have water.</blockquote>
He also revealed that the government has acquired pumps fro the Amapongobge Dam to supply the City of Gweru as Gwenhoro Dam is left with less than two months of water supply.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/power-cuts-govt-orders-sparing-of-water-sewerage-pumping/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Water, Sewerage Pumping To Be Spared Load Shedding - Govt

The City Of Gweru mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe has assured residents that the city will not run out of the water as there are contingency plans that are being put in place to keep the taps running.
In an interview with State media last week, Cllr Makombe revealed that the council has secured US$300 000 funding from the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ). He said:
<blockquote>Gweru will not run dry… That is the positive message to our residents and industry.
This is because the Government has already started mobilising resources and experts to make sure we have water. We also got one pump from Unki Mine although it’s a bit small.
We have contractors who will be drilling the boreholes. The water will be put into our reservoirs and water tanks where it will be treated before it is channelled into the existing water pipes.
The funding is coming from IDBZ and I am sure we will get somewhere. Government is also coming in to assist.</blockquote>
Concerns have been raised over the past several months as the water levels in the city’s main source of water, Gwenhoro Dam having plummeted to alarming levels.
The pump from Unki Mine will be used to pump water from another water reservoir, Amapongobge Dam.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/gweru-will-not-run-dry-mayor-assures-residents/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Herald</a></h4>

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