Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube has called on residents and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Bulawayo to support the local authorityโs plan to establish a water utility.
This proposal, which the council intends to submit to the government, aims to counter the ongoing push for water privatisation.
The call was made during a meeting organised by CSOs at the Small City Hall on Wednesday.
The meeting brought together council management, councillors, and CSO representatives to discuss the councilโs stance on water privatisation.
Recently, Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe announced that the government had received approval to invite private investors to take over urban water supply systems.
READ: https://www.zimlive.com/prepaid-water-for-victoria-falls-bulawayo-and-harare-minister/
In response, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has prepared a proposal to create a municipally owned water utility. An earlier plan to collaborate with the Dutch company Vitens Evides International (VEI) was shelved.
READ: https://cite.org.zw/bulawayo-water-utility-proposal-put-on-hold/
Speaking during the meeting, Dube said council wants to set up a water utility, citing its numerous advantages.
โThere are two disadvantages I can mention, but they are far fewer compared to the advantages,โ said Dube. โThe first disadvantage is controlโcouncil wonโt control water, and water is important. The loss of power is a concern, but mitigation measures will address that. The other disadvantage is that water was subsidising other accounts, like social services, which were not making enough money. Thatโs a disadvantage, but we will fix it with mitigation measures. Overall, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, which is why weโre saying, letโs go with the utility.โ
Dube warned that failure to proceed with the proposal could lead to the government imposing privatisation, leaving the city without control of its water supply.
READ: https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200036793/residents-fume-over-water-privatisation
โThe councilโs position at the moment is that we are going with the utilityโthatโs the truth,โ he said. โAt the moment, the government is talking about privatisation, but we have our own plan. If we fail, the government will impose a private utility company, which you wonโt be able to control or access. I donโt know how that will work.โ
He added, โWeโre speaking about something we own. Let us build itโit’s ours. Some may feel undecided, but Iโve made my choice, and Iโm not backtracking. Iโve chosen the utility, and the majority of my management and council support it.โ
Dube acknowledged that the council has not yet consulted residents on the utility proposal or the construction of the Glass Block Dam, another critical issue for the city.
โIn terms of consultations, as management, we thought of conducting them over the weekend, visiting all wards. We planned to address two issues: the utility and the Glass Block Dam. This dam will serve as a stop-gap measure while waiting for the Gwayi-Shangani Dam construction by the government,โ he said.
โHowever, the councillors suggested we focus first on the dam to avoid complications. The damโs water will be slightly more expensive but manageable since weโll blend it with cheaper water from our existing sources. Weโll consult on this and later present the utility proposal.โ
Acting Director of Water and Sanitation, Engineer Kwanele Sibanda, confirmed that the local authority is preparing its water utility proposal for government submission.
โThe government is pushing for the privatisation of water provision and other services. As Bulawayo, we are finalising our own water utility proposal,โ said Eng Sibanda. โThis is the right time for us to submit our plan to the government.โ
Eng Sibanda explained that the water utility would operate as a corporatised public entity, fully owned by the city, ensuring both autonomy and accountability.
โThe governance structure will secure 100% ownership by the city, safeguarding autonomy while delivering water and sanitation services,โ said Eng Sibanda.