RBZ to blame for sewerage problems in Bulawayo, BCC

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has blamed the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe  for sewerage that is freely flowing  from houses in Luveve.

Luveve is sitting on a potential health time bomb due to collapsed sewer system.

A company contracted by council last year is said to have battled to source materials due to biting cash shortages.

That has resulted in the project completion to be extended to 15 February instead of August last year, council senior public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu said.

"The contractor has had problems with sourcing of materials to complete the sewer line at Luveve but all the materials are now on site.

 "However, due to the Construction Industry of Zimbabwe mandatory annual shut down, work will only resume on the 16 January 2017.

"Regrettably and in the meantime the sewerage from houses is flowing on the road, as the outfall sewer is very close to the houses and it is difficult to divert it" said Mpofu in a media statement on Thursday.

"Council awarded a tender for rehabilitation of collapsed outfall sewers at Pumula South and Luveve.

According to Mpofu, the project commenced on the 22 January 2016 and was due to be completed by the end of August last year.

 "But due to problems that were faced by contractors as regards payment of external suppliers the project completion date had to be extended to 15 February 2017.

"The problems are with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe due to liquidity crisis" she said.