Reports emanating from Chitungwiza Municipality are that, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Honourable Saviour Kasukuwere recently approved funding for the commencement of construction of Muda Dam in Chihota communal lands.
There have been reports over the last six months that Minister Kasukuwere is refusing to approve the expenditure on political grounds so as to discredit the MDC-T which control the town ahead of the 2018 elections.
A Councillor who spoke with Chitownews who did not want to be identified, said the Minister has signed and it is now left to the finance committee.
“The minister has signed for funds for construction of Muda Dam and it is now left to the finance committee,” said the ecstatic Councillor.
During an MDC-T rally that was held in September 2016, the Mayor of Chitungwiza, Mr Phillip Mutoti, told the gathering that the Municipality got funds from a foreign partner for the construction of Muda dam but the Minister is refusing to approve the expenditure so as to discredit their party ahead of the 2018 elections.
Muda dam is a project of Chitungwiza Municipality that seeks to solve the perennial water challenges currently facing the town as residents go for days and weeks, others months without running tape water in their homes.
The dam is going to be constructed in Chihota communal areas and will supply Chitungwiza with domestic and industrial water, provide water for irrigation purposes to farmers along the supply pipeline in an effort to improve their livelihoods and security in Chihota and Chitungwiza people.
Currently, the Chitungwiza like other satellite towns surrounding Harare which include Norton, Ruwa does not have its own water supply sources but buy water from Harare which is failing to provide its residents with adequate water.
The majority of Chitungwiza residents think that they have their own water supply in the form of Prince Edward dam but, it is actually owned and operated by City of Harare despite it’s close proximity to Chitungwiza.