The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) working with District Development Fund (DDF) has managed to repair 73 boreholes as part of efforts to improve water supply in the city.
The local authority is currently battling to supply adequate water amid depleting water levels at the remaining three supply dams namely, Insiza, Inyankuni and Mtshabezi.
The City is facing one of its worst water crises with dam levels currently at 28 percent with residents enduring a 144-hour water shedding schedule.
A snap survey by CITE in areas such as Pumula and Nkulumane revealed that several community boreholes which were previously dysfunctional have now been attended to.
Responding to questions via Email, BCC Senior Public Relations Officer, Nesisa Mpofu revealed that they partnered with DDF to repair the boreholes.
“Bulawayo City Council is conducting the repair of these boreholes working with the District Development Fund who are assisting with flushing of some of the boreholes,” said Mpofu.
“So far 73 boreholes have been attended to as of the 22nd of June from the 1st May 2020. The target was 50 boreholes but with the current high usage of boreholes, BCC has adopted the repair as reported approach since more boreholes now require attention.”
Mpofu said the local authority will drill six more boreholes while various donor organisations have pledged to drill 10 boreholes.
Meanwhile, Bulawayo United Residents’ Association (BURA) chairperson Winos Dube commended the local authority for attending to the boreholes.
“This is something that the residents are expecting, we want to see our Council coming into action to alleviate the current water challenges in Bulawayo,” said Dube.
“If they are coming up with more boreholes, it’s a most welcome move to us as an organisation that represents residents in Bulawayo, we are saying this is a good effort, let it be done and we want to see it coming into assisting our residents.”
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) Communications Officer, Kelebone Khabo said the short-term method will augment water supply to the city.
“This short-term solution will help the residents to get more water and to help supplement water that they are receiving from the bowsers and also once a week from the City Council taps,” said Khabo.
“What we now want to see is more long-term measures being implemented to address the water crisis because we are still in need of water as a City,” he said.
