By Chipo Gudhe
Redcliff Municipality has received unsolicited bids from several companies keen to construct a local water treatment plant, a move that could end the city’s long-standing reliance on Kwekwe City Council for water supply.
The local authority, which currently lacks its own water treatment infrastructure, is assessing proposals from potential partners amid growing urgency to establish its own independent water system.
Redcliff Acting Town Clerk Nyararai Gomba confirmed that several companies had submitted bids to install the water treatment plant. However, he noted the process was still in its early stages and would require rigorous technical and financial assessments.
“We have several companies who have brought in their unsolicited bids. They are currently engaging with our engineering department to meet the technical requirements they were given. The first step involves submitting detailed documentation of what they intend to do,” said Gomba.
Gomba emphasized that any viable proposal would be assessed against the municipality’s existing feasibility plan before being escalated to the parent ministry for further scrutiny.
“If it’s feasible, we will forward the matter to our parent ministry. That’s where due diligence begins—vetting the companies, verifying their sources of funding, and confirming their capacity to implement the project,” he said.
He added that the proposed project was capital-intensive and would ultimately require cabinet and parliamentary approval.
Engineer Thembani Kundhlande, who oversees technical review processes, said the municipality was currently going through the submitted documents with support from the relevant government ministry.
“These are unsolicited bids that came through after we advertised investment opportunities. We expect to finalize the assessment and submit to the ministry by the end of July,” he said.
Redcliff has long struggled with water supply challenges due to its dependence on Kwekwe City. Establishing a local treatment plant is seen as a strategic step toward improving service delivery and attracting investment to the town.
However, both officials said the municipality cannot fund the project on its own.
“We haven’t gone to tender yet because we don’t have the money to implement the project. The real test will be when we ask the bidders to show us the money,” said Gomba.
