The Zimbabwean government has injected a huge sum of money to step up efforts to normalize water supplies and bring the cholera outbreak under control, local media reported on Thursday.
The foreign currency has been paid over the past two weeks to import water treatment chemicals while the local currency was released on Wednesday as working capital to repair and install pumps and other equipment that have affected water supply in recent months, The Herald said.
Briefing journalists on the developments on Wednesday, the Minister of Water Resources and Infrastructural Development Munacho Mutezo said the support by the central bank would result in the restoration of normal water supplies in most areas within three weeks.
"As minister responsible for water provision, I wish to assure the public that all efforts will be made to ensure that normalcy is swiftly restored on the water supply front," he said.
Pumps for both water and sewerage were currently being installed while chemicals to treat the water were now being imported on a continuous basis following the release of funds by the central bank.
Harare and Chitungwiza in particular, have, over the past few months, faced critical water shortages that have resulted in the outbreak of cholera.
In Budiriro alone, nine people have died over the past few days while scores are receiving treatment.
The erratic water supply situation is also a result of sanctions that have brought hardships to Zimbabweans in many dimensions, said Mutezo.
He said interventions by the central back would go a long way in controlling the cholera outbreak while ensuring short, medium and long-term availability of clean water.
RBZ Governor Dr Gideon Gono said the central bank would do everything in its power to avert challenges such as the cholera outbreak and the acute water shortages that presently afflict the nation, stressing that "extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary interventions."
Source: Xinhua
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