By Rungano Dzikira

Government has stepped up efforts towards addressing Bulawayo water woes with treasury touring the Nyamandlovu Government funded project this week to assess progress made.

Speaking during the tour, this Monday, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube said that Government was committed to increase Bulawayo water supply as this was hindering revival of industries in the city.

“Solving Bulawayo water challenges is very central for Government, because we know that water shortages are one of the constraints which are impacting on the city’s capacity to attract businesses back to live.

“As such, Government through Zinwa and other structures are working on Nyamandlovu aquifer which has sub 2 sites, that is the Epping site and the Rochester site that we are working on. Rochester is much more developed and we are now shifting to the Epping Forest site,” he said.

Treasury disbursed $10,6 million for its first phase which would result in the complete overhaul of 25 boreholes at Rochester and drilling of 15 new boreholes to make a total of 40 functional boreholes.

“Epping Forest Pump Station is also earmarked for completion and will be allocated resources which will add another 10 million litres of water daily to the City of Bulawayo,” he added.

The Government funded project is expected to increase water abstraction from Nyamandlovu to 10million litres a day from the current 3 million litres.

The finance minister was escorted by Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo and Minister of State for Bulawayo province, Judith Ncube.