Staff Reporter
Bulawayo residents have voiced their frustration over the Bulawayo City Council's (BCC) failure to alleviate the city's worsening water crisis, which has left many without water for weeks or even months.
The situation has deteriorated so much that the opposition led council has implemented a stringent 120-hour weekly water-rationing program, but even this measure often fails, with many suburbs going without water for longer periods.
Angry residents have expressed their discontent with the council's handling of the water shortages.
Sandra Dube, a resident of Pumula South, lamented, “We have gone for three weeks without a single drop of water. The council keeps talking about water-shedding schedules, but they are not being followed. How are we supposed to survive like this?”
In Mzilikazi, John Moyo shared similar frustrations.
“The situation is unbearable. We have to queue for hours at community boreholes, and sometimes they also run dry. We need a permanent solution, not just talk about plans that seem to go nowhere,” he said.
Thokozile Ncube, a mother of three from Emganwini, expressed concern about the health implications of the water shortages.
“Our children are getting sick because of lack of clean water. We are using unsafe sources, and the council is doing nothing tangible to address this crisis,” she stated.
Farai Sibanda from Nkulumane criticized the city council for its slow response.
“They have been talking about tapping into aquifers for months, but there is no progress. We want action, not empty promises,” he urged.
In response to the growing outcry, the BCC is reportedly exploring several measures to mitigate the water crisis.
Among these is a feasibility study to assess the potential of tapping into aquifers in Nkulumane, Nketa, and Hope Fountain.
These areas are believed to have substantial underground water reserves, and plans are underway to determine their viability as alternative water sources.
The council is believed to be seeking international support, having approached several embassies and two international financing organizations to secure funding.
The government has declared the water crisis a state of disaster, releasing partial funds to address the situation.
The city council has already received US$134 000 for repairing leakages at the Magwegwe reservoir and an additional US$310 000 to explore groundwater potential in Nkulumane and Nketa.
Efforts to get a comment from Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart were futile as he was not answering his mobile phones.
However, the city council's current measures, including the decommissioning of dams and water conservation strategies, have been compounded by issues such as increased pipe bursts and vandalism of critical infrastructure.
