Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Leonard Ncube, [email protected]
THE Victoria Falls City Council has made significant progress in constructing ground and elevated water reservoirs, with the project 65 percent complete.
The US$4 million project was launched in June 2023 as part of a broader US$18 million Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiative designed to permanently resolve water challenges in the resort city.
The scope of the project includes upgrading the Aerodrome pump station and pumping lines, constructing a new five-megalitre ground reservoir and a 0,75-megalitre elevated tank to enable gravity-fed water supply, and reinforcing weak zones by installing 13 kilometres of new pipelines.
The project aims to improve residents’ quality of life by providing a reliable supply of clean and safe water, increasing water pressure, and ensuring longer availability of water.
Victoria Falls Town Clerk, Mr Ronnie Dube reported that the project is over 65 percent complete.
“Our main development focus this year is the completion of ground and elevated water reservoirs, which will boost water pressure in Mkhosana and Chinotimba. The project is over 65 percent complete,” said Mr Dube.
A Chronicle news team observed workmen on-site yesterday, resuming construction after the festive holidays. They were reinforcing steel frames and foundations, with concrete foundations already in place.
The lack of water reservoirs has been a long-standing concern for Victoria Falls residents, frequently raised during budget consultations where they urged the council to build storage facilities.
“The 13-kilometre pipeline has been laid from the water source to the pump station. Installing a new pump and addressing water pressure issues will complete the project,” Mr Dube added.
This large-scale initiative is expected to significantly enhance water supply in line with the Second Republic’s aspirations under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030.
Over 40 percent of properties in Mkhosana and other high-lying areas experience inconsistent water supply. Upon completion, the project is expected to ensure reliable water access for over 98 percent of residents.
The rapid growth of Victoria Falls, including an increase in properties, hotels, and population, has strained essential services such as water supply, sewage systems, solid waste management, roads, and drainage.
Challenges include limited water pumping capacity, ageing water treatment plants, leakage, and inadequate reservoir storage, particularly in high-lying areas like Mkhosana. Although the city pumps sufficient water from the Zambezi River, distribution remains a significant challenge.
A WASH masterplan developed in 2016 recommended the construction of storage facilities for Mkhosana and new properties, as the city currently pumps water directly to consumers. ICP Integrated Construction was contracted to build a five-megalitre ground reservoir, a 0,75-megalitre elevated storage tank, and associated infrastructure in Mkhosana suburb, near Moringa Shopping Centre.
The project is partly funded through council revenue generated from land sales, including a portion of the $120 million devolution funds provided by the Government last year.
