Chinese firm injects $120k into Masvingo water project

The Chinese government has, through the China Camse Engineering Company, availed $120 million to the City of Masvingo to upgrade water supply and a sewage pumping and treatment plants.

The signing ceremony was held in Harare yesterday and it coincided with the State visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping who arrived in the morning.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Provincial Minister of State for Masvingo, Shuvai Mahofa commended the Masvingo City Council and Camse Ltd for signing the important agreement.

"We are happy that Masvingo City Council is heeding the call by President Mugabe to "Look East". This project is in line with Zim-Asset," she said. "This is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) which is in line with our Zimbabwe government policy.

"His Excellency President Robert Mugabe was in China in 2013 looking for funding for infrastructure and today we witness some of the fruits of that."

Under the agreement Masvingo City Council and Camse will work together in implementing the project.

"The signing of this agreement on the improvement of waste water in Masvingo follows the previous signing of a similar agreement for the upgrading of the city's water supply," said Mahofa.

"The success of these projects will lead to a good service delivery and attract investment to the city."

Masvingo mayor Hubert Pfidze said they will ensure the successful implementation of the projects.

"Wan Kailong, Camse representative in Zimbabwe, we thank you for being passionate about our two projects," said Pfidze.

He said the company had demonstrated that it attaches great value and importance to the two projects.

Camse vice president Hu Wei said they had been supplying Zimbabwe with quality agricultural machinery under the Chinese government on concessional loans since 2004.

"We witness today the signing of the contract for the project and I am confident that Camse will ensure high standards are maintained when undertaking the work, he said.