Bulawayo authorities and a local Member of Parliament have defended efforts to support community gardens, following concerns that some projects are struggling because of water shortages and infrastructure challenges.
The response comes after a report by CITE highlighted difficulties facing several gardens.
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Entumbane-Njube MP Prince Dube said progress had been made to improve water access through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), particularly by solarising boreholes.
He said at least three boreholes in his constituency had been upgraded from manual systems to solar-powered pumps, each fitted with 5,000-litre tanks and multiple taps. Entumbane, which previously faced severe water shortages, is among the areas that have benefited.
“Using the Constituency Development Fund, I have managed to solarise three boreholes within my constituency,” said Dube. “Previously, these were manual and it took time for residents to draw water. Now they are fitted with 5,000-litre tanks and multiple taps, which has greatly improved access.”
He said water committees had been established to manage the infrastructure and prevent vandalism.
During last year’s water shortages, some boreholes were overused and frequently broke down, he said, prompting committees to introduce small maintenance contributions from users.
“Where boreholes broke down due to overuse, funds were needed for repairs. Committees agreed on small contributions to ensure money was available for maintenance,” he said.
However, Dube said he hoped that with solarisation and additional boreholes, residents would no longer need to contribute towards water access.
“We hope everyone will have access to clean water and no one will be forced to draw water from unprotected wells,” he said.
He said boreholes had been solarised in Njube, Old Lobengula, Entumbane and Sukasihambe, with more installations planned.
On Simunye Garden, Dube said the existing borehole was facing technical problems after equipment fell inside and could not be retrieved. An alternative borehole drilled under the Presidential Borehole Scheme would be solarised instead.
He added that CDF funds had also supported other projects, including fencing a new multi-purpose sports ground and procuring furniture for an early childhood development block at Umthombo Wesizwe Primary School.
Meanwhile, Bulawayo City Council (BCC) said it was not aware of any community gardens that had collapsed, maintaining that more than 40 were operational across the city.
“There are more than 40 community gardens that are operational across the city. We have no information of gardens that have collapsed,” said BCC corporate communications manager Nesisa Mpofu.
She said some gardens appear dormant during off-seasons, as allotment holders practise seasonal farming.
Mpofu said the city had partnered with organisations including the World Food Programme (WFP), DanChurchAid (DCA), Africa Ahead, ZimParks and Agritex to support selected gardens with solar-powered boreholes, fencing, water storage tanks and inputs.
She said DCA, in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, had spent a combined US$25,000 to revitalise three gardens: St Columbus in Makokoba, MaMkhwanzi in Old Lobengula and Vulindlela in Tshabalala.
However, the council acknowledged past challenges, particularly the collapse of wastewater irrigation systems that once supplied recycled water to some gardens.
“In the past, some community gardens were irrigated using recycled water from wastewater treatment plants. This is no longer the case, as the pipeline network has collapsed,” Mpofu said.
She warned against the use of unsafe water sources, saying untreated sewage posed serious health risks.
“Consumption of such produce may result in disease outbreaks, including cholera and typhoid, and exposure to dangerous chemicals such as lead,” she said.
On reports that residents were being charged for borehole water, Mpofu said the council had received no formal complaints and stressed that such practices were illegal.
“Making residents pay for water from boreholes is illegal and such cases should be reported to the City Council,” she said.
She added that while residents are permitted to establish gardens in open spaces under the city’s Urban Agriculture Policy, land reserved for other developments may be reclaimed following engagement with affected communities.
“This is done in a humane and harmonious manner to maintain good relations between residents and the local authority,” Mpofu said.
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