News / Regional
Mtshabezi pipeline vandalised
10 Jan 2013 at 05:57hrs | Views
PANIC is spreading after unknown people allegedly vandalised a four-kilometre section of the Mtshabezi pipeline.
In an interview yesterday, the Minister of Water Resources Management and Development, Dr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, said three pipes in the vandalised section would have to be replaced.
He said his ministry was on high alert to curb further incidents.
However, Dr Sipepa Nkomo said the destruction of the pipeline would not cause further delays to the project, as replacement of pipes had been budgeted for in the trial runs.
"We discovered three holes that were deliberately made in the pipes using a sharp instrument.
"The vandalised section covers four kilometres and is in a bush, away from settlements. The holes are in the final section of the pipeline that is between the second reservoir and the final storage tank at Umzingwane Dam, from which water will be pumped to Bulawayo," said Dr Sipepa Nkomo.
He said three pipes would be replaced in the section, as the holes could not be repaired.
"We are on high alert as the wanton destruction of State property is worrying. We have met traditional leaders in the area so that they assist in spreading awareness about the need to safeguard this asset, which will benefit the region and the country," said Dr Sipepa Nkomo.
He said the ministry did not have manpower to place guards along the 46-kilometre length of the pipeline and would have to rely mainly on the goodwill of people living along it.
"I would also like to warn whoever did this terrible thing that when they get caught, they are going straight to prison. At the last parliamentary sitting, we passed a law that anyone who destroys State property would go to prison without the option of a fine," said the Minister.
Dr Sipepa Nkomo said there were seven outlets along the pipeline that would provide water for irrigation to communities along its length.
"It will also provide about 17 000 cubic metres of water to Bulawayo everyday. This makes everyone a stakeholder in the project. We hope people will keep that in mind and educate each other about the importance of the pipeline," he said.
Last week, the ministry fixed about 16 leaks in the first two sections of the pipeline, mainly at places where the pipes joined each other.
The City of Bulawayo desperately needs the water from Mtshabezi Dam, which has been 100 percent full since its completion in 1994.
Completion of the pipeline has missed so many deadlines that residents and city fathers have become sceptical about relying on it to save Bulawayo, which is fast running dry. The city has introduced a four-day weekly water shedding schedule in all suburbs, in a bid to conserve supplies.
Two of the city's five supply dams, Upper Ncema and Umzingwane have already been decommissioned.
Lower Ncema and Inyankuni are on the brink of being decommissioned, following reports that the heavy rains that pounded most of the Matabeleland region last week, did not fall in the catchment areas of the five supply dams, in Matabeleland South.
Insignificant inflows of about 0,35 percent were received in the five dams.
In an interview yesterday, the Minister of Water Resources Management and Development, Dr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, said three pipes in the vandalised section would have to be replaced.
He said his ministry was on high alert to curb further incidents.
However, Dr Sipepa Nkomo said the destruction of the pipeline would not cause further delays to the project, as replacement of pipes had been budgeted for in the trial runs.
"We discovered three holes that were deliberately made in the pipes using a sharp instrument.
"The vandalised section covers four kilometres and is in a bush, away from settlements. The holes are in the final section of the pipeline that is between the second reservoir and the final storage tank at Umzingwane Dam, from which water will be pumped to Bulawayo," said Dr Sipepa Nkomo.
He said three pipes would be replaced in the section, as the holes could not be repaired.
"We are on high alert as the wanton destruction of State property is worrying. We have met traditional leaders in the area so that they assist in spreading awareness about the need to safeguard this asset, which will benefit the region and the country," said Dr Sipepa Nkomo.
He said the ministry did not have manpower to place guards along the 46-kilometre length of the pipeline and would have to rely mainly on the goodwill of people living along it.
"I would also like to warn whoever did this terrible thing that when they get caught, they are going straight to prison. At the last parliamentary sitting, we passed a law that anyone who destroys State property would go to prison without the option of a fine," said the Minister.
Dr Sipepa Nkomo said there were seven outlets along the pipeline that would provide water for irrigation to communities along its length.
"It will also provide about 17 000 cubic metres of water to Bulawayo everyday. This makes everyone a stakeholder in the project. We hope people will keep that in mind and educate each other about the importance of the pipeline," he said.
Last week, the ministry fixed about 16 leaks in the first two sections of the pipeline, mainly at places where the pipes joined each other.
The City of Bulawayo desperately needs the water from Mtshabezi Dam, which has been 100 percent full since its completion in 1994.
Completion of the pipeline has missed so many deadlines that residents and city fathers have become sceptical about relying on it to save Bulawayo, which is fast running dry. The city has introduced a four-day weekly water shedding schedule in all suburbs, in a bid to conserve supplies.
Two of the city's five supply dams, Upper Ncema and Umzingwane have already been decommissioned.
Lower Ncema and Inyankuni are on the brink of being decommissioned, following reports that the heavy rains that pounded most of the Matabeleland region last week, did not fall in the catchment areas of the five supply dams, in Matabeleland South.
Insignificant inflows of about 0,35 percent were received in the five dams.
Source - TC
