AfriForum criticised Rand Water’s move to invest R800 million in Zanzibar.
The organisation responded to a notice published in the Government Gazette, announcing the water utility’s approval to invest in a water project in Tanzania.
AfriForum wrote in a post last week, “our towns are without water…”
Rand Water was selected as the preferred bidder to provide technical support, infrastructure management, and operational improvement to the Zanzibar Water Authority (ZAWA) through a ten-year Management, Operations, and Maintenance (MOM) contract.
Makenosi Maroo, Spokesperson of Rand Water, said “it is important to note that Rand Water will not supply water from South Africa to Zanzibar; the partnership is strictly focused on technical support, infrastructure management, and operational improvement.”
She also said the ZAWA partnership is a paid service, and the revenues generated will enhance Rand Water’s financial sustainability while supporting continued investment in its core operations and strategic growth in South Africa.
The project is classified as a secondary activity and does not compromise Rand Water’s core responsibilities in South Africa.
The contract, also extends to optimizing Zanzibar’s water production, transmission, and distribution systems, rehabilitating and upgrading critical infrastructure, implementing world-class operational standards, building local technical skills and institutional capacity.
Maroo agreed the project asked an estimated R800 million.
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