News / Local
Bulawayo City Council tackles de-industrialisation
27 Dec 2011 at 03:15hrs | Views
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has pledged to support the city's re-industrialisation programme by providing adequate water, a major component whose unavailability has contributed to poor performance by city companies.
Bulawayo is in the middle of fighting de-industrialisation, with city companies eagerly waiting for a US$40 million loan facility promised by the Government to revive ailing companies.
BCC Mayor Councillor Thaba Moyo said there is no longer a need for companies to relocate from the city, citing critical water shortages as the local authority has managed to deal with the challenge.
Although the mayor admitted that the city once had water challenges, he said the situation was now manageable.
"True, Bulawayo has experienced droughts of alarming proportions, notably the 1992 and 2006 droughts where the city almost ran dry. There can be no denying the adverse effects these have had on the life of the city. Not withstanding these shortages, the city has survived, always emerging stronger and wiser. Through successive droughts, management has established milestones in water management," said the mayor during the familiarisation tour of a local company.
The Government, through the Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management, is presently constructing the Mtshabezi pipeline project, a short-term measure meant to boost water supplies in the city.
The pipeline project is now 80 percent complete and is expected to be operational by May next year.
The mayor said it was regrettable that some companies were wasting their resources in relocating instead of improving their operations.
The mayor gave a thumbs-up to Delta Beverages for remaining in the city at a time when most companies were shunning it.
"The case of Delta Corporation, a heavy water user, who have demonstrated their loyalty to the city not only preserving but expanding its operations, is testimony of our assertion," said the mayor.
The mayor challenged industrialists to change their mindset towards the city and invest in it as the city had the potential to regain its status.
Some economists have argued that the water problems have contributed to the demise of industry in the city.
More than 87 companies closed shop in the city this year, rendering more than 20 000 people jobless.
The economists have indicated that infrastructure such as the city water system were key to the revival of the city and Government should even channel resources to ensure the revival exercise is supported.
Bulawayo is in the middle of fighting de-industrialisation, with city companies eagerly waiting for a US$40 million loan facility promised by the Government to revive ailing companies.
BCC Mayor Councillor Thaba Moyo said there is no longer a need for companies to relocate from the city, citing critical water shortages as the local authority has managed to deal with the challenge.
Although the mayor admitted that the city once had water challenges, he said the situation was now manageable.
"True, Bulawayo has experienced droughts of alarming proportions, notably the 1992 and 2006 droughts where the city almost ran dry. There can be no denying the adverse effects these have had on the life of the city. Not withstanding these shortages, the city has survived, always emerging stronger and wiser. Through successive droughts, management has established milestones in water management," said the mayor during the familiarisation tour of a local company.
The Government, through the Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management, is presently constructing the Mtshabezi pipeline project, a short-term measure meant to boost water supplies in the city.
The pipeline project is now 80 percent complete and is expected to be operational by May next year.
The mayor gave a thumbs-up to Delta Beverages for remaining in the city at a time when most companies were shunning it.
"The case of Delta Corporation, a heavy water user, who have demonstrated their loyalty to the city not only preserving but expanding its operations, is testimony of our assertion," said the mayor.
The mayor challenged industrialists to change their mindset towards the city and invest in it as the city had the potential to regain its status.
Some economists have argued that the water problems have contributed to the demise of industry in the city.
More than 87 companies closed shop in the city this year, rendering more than 20 000 people jobless.
The economists have indicated that infrastructure such as the city water system were key to the revival of the city and Government should even channel resources to ensure the revival exercise is supported.
Source - zimpapers
