Zimbabwe Helps Limpopo Combat Water Shortages
Image source: Musina communities are to receive much-needed water from Zimbabwe’s Beitbridge water plant. Picture: Paballo Thekiso
Published by: Dimphotsentle Pule
The recurring water shortages faced by communities in Musina, Limpopo, might become a thing of the past by 2026. This could be attributed to a bilateral agreement between the water resource management departments of South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Due to the collaborative efforts of South Africa’s Department of Water & Sanitation and Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, an accord has been established to transport treated water from Beitbridge water treatment works in Zimbabwe to the town of Musina.
Minister of Water & Sanitation Senzo Mchunu described the transfer of treated water from Beitbridge as a medium-term solution to tackle water supply challenges in the area. He said that the treatment plant could produce up to 35 million cubic meters of water each year. However, only a small amount, about 10% of this capacity, was being sent to Beitbridge from Zimbabwe.
Coming on the back of a bilateral agreement for co-operation on water resources management and the establishment and functioning of a joint water commission in 2015, the two countries would kick-start an implementation plan and oversee the construction of a pipeline and pump stations to transfer 15 million cubic metres (about 41 megalitres) of treated water from Zimbabwe to Musina each day.
The construction projects will be supervised by the Development Bank of Southern Africa and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, with completion anticipated by 2026.
Meanwhile, Mchunu stated that his department would collaborate with the Vhembe District Municipality and the water services authority for Musina Local Municipality to address challenges with the current water infrastructure. This includes rehabilitating existing but non-functional boreholes while the project is underway.
“We are looking at operationalising the non-functioning boreholes in the Musina (area), and we believe that with the transfer of water from Beitbridge water treatment works, the challenges of water supply in Musina will be a thing of the past… We are saying it loudly that water supply will be more than the demand (for) water in the area. We are thankful to the government of Zimbabwe for being able to expedite this water-sharing deal, which will change the lives of the people of Musina,” said Mchunu.
Zimbabwe’s Dr Anxious Jongwe Masuka said: “I am very pleased that this day has come to fruition. It has taken years of negotiation, and I thank the technical team for having put (in) their very best for their countries.”
About The Author
