Bulawayo mayor Solomon Mguni says the ongoing water crisis is the biggest challenge they have faced in the two years they were elected into office.
The city is currently grappling its worst water crisis with the three remaining supply dams at 24 percent capacity.
So severe is the crisis that the local authority has once again mooted the idea to draw water from the heavily polluted Khami Dam.
However, residents have once again shot down the proposal.
The city also struggled with an outbreak of diarrhoea which claimed 13 lives and affected more than 2000 residents in Luveve suburb.
“The city is currently facing a drought. The recent rains bring hope that we are coming out of this predicament. Our dams are at 24.58% full as at September 1 2020,” the mayor said as he delivered a review report of the past two years.
The mayor reiterated that vandalism of council property and electricity challenges affected water supplies to the city.
“Water shedding schedule is affected by vandalism of infrastructure and power outages which interrupt pumping. We thank the residents and stakeholders for their continued support and partnership in dealing with this crisis,” he said.
Mguni said a number of projects to augment water supplies to the city were in motion.
“There is the rehabilitation of Aisleby waste water treatment plants one and two, rehabilitation of Southern areas sewerage treatment (SAST) plant, supply and installation of electromechanical equipment at Ncema and Fernhill pump stations,” said Cllr Mguni.
“We are also rehabilitating Criterion water treatment plant, supply l, installation and commissioning of bypass breakers at Ncema and Fernhill, rewinding of two sulzer electric motors at Ncema and Fernhill pump stations among others.”
The mayor reiterated the local authority was also working on rehabilitating its sewer system.
