Prisca Manyiwa-Masuku

MIRROR REPORTER

GOKWE – Gokwe Town Council is proposing to introduce a US$2 monthly sewer tariff in its 2025 budget to install sewer lines and do away with blair toilets.The local authority’s Acting Town Secretary Engineer Melsen Masukume confirmed the development to The Mirror. He told The Mirror that the town depends on groundwater and the source should be protected.

Gokwe masterplan findings indicate that 75% of residents use blair toilets which poses a serious threat to underground water.Masukume said should the proposal be approved by residents, council will implement the project in phases.“As you are aware 80% of Gokwe Town Council does not have sewer system and that affects underground water.

We want to install new sewer lines everywhere but it will be done in stages because we do not have enough funds unless the Government intervenes. “We are afraid that we may be attacking the underground water table which may result in water contamination so we will seriously consider that,” said Masukume.The proposed tariff is the same for high, low and medium residential areas.