Heavy rains expected in Matabeleland from Wednesday through Sunday are likely to boost Bulawayo’s dire water situation in which some suburbs receive running water in their tapes once a week.
Zimbabwe’s second largest city which has since decommissioned three of its six supply dams following poor rains received in the past two consecutive seasons is experiencing one of its worst water crises in recent history.
According to the Bulawayo City Council statistics released Tuesday afternoon only 5.7 percent of inflows into all dams combined has been received from rains so far.
Insiza, Inyankuni and Mtshabezi are the only operational dams while Upper Ncema, Lower Ncema and Umzingwane dams remain decommissioned.
With the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) having predicted thunderstorms in western and southern parts of the country of which the three Matabeleland provinces are part, hopes are high in Bulawayo that the city’s water fortunes are bound to change for the better.
“Thunderstorms and rain are expected over much of the country through to Sunday 20 December 2020, with heavier falls in excess of 50mm in 24 hours in areas such as Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan, Midlands into Masvingo,” said the MSD in a statement.
“This is due to moisture from a cloud system currently active over Botswana.
These projected rains may lead to flash and riverine floods posing potential risk in the western and southern parts of the country, where more than 50mm of rains are expected.”
Grace Dlomo of Emganwini said she hoped the rains would improve Bulawayo’s water situation.
“I am very happy that it is raining today and I believe as days go by there will be enough water in our dams and this business of wasting time looking for water will soon be history,” she said.
Bulawayo Deputy Mayor, Mlandu Ncube, said the rains were a welcome development for the city.
“The season looks promising and we pray it delivers good rains,” he said.
“As soon as our dams normalise we will restore normal water supply.”
