Bulawayo Councillors have raised concerns over the worsening water crisis in the city, warning that the situation could have long-term consequences for residents and future development.
Speaking during a full council meeting held in the council chambers, Wednesday, Ward 25 Councillor, Aleck Ndlovu, stated that the water issue is a matter of life and death and the availability of water to the residents will determine the future of the city.
“This is a life and death matter. The availability of water to the residents will determine the future of this city, the very existence of its residents and the prospects of the development,” said Ndlovu.
He said the city’s water challenges, worsened by poor rainfall and aging infrastructure, are discouraging potential investors.
“When we talk about investments, these are some of the factors considered. We all know we did not have a good rainfall season. Our dams did not fill up to optimum levels. Despite that, we still have issues to do with obsolete infrastructure, the leaks, the bursts. Non-revenue water in general is making our situation worse,” he said.
Ndlovu also expressed concern over the slow pace of underground water exploration, urging the council to do more hydrological and geological studies.
“We seem to be taking our foot off the pedal when it comes to underground water exploration. We should be talking about it in this report with invitations of expressions of interest from people who are doing those studies so that we can guarantee ourselves a constant supply of water,” he said.
Ward 5 Councillor Dumisani Nkomo weighed in citing that the city council needs to update its wastewater capacities and their potential.
“If we can have an update on our waste water as well on the current capacities, what is available, the potential, and what that potential can do for the city as well,” said Nkomo.
Ward 3 Councillor, Mxolisi Mahlangu, also addressed the high levels of non-revenue water, stating that water is lost before reaching residents due to leaks, bursts, and theft.
“We cannot talk about water pigmentation strategies minus the quantified non-revenue water we continue to lose all the time. I think it’s unfair to stick to 45 percent and 48 percent all the time,” Mahlangu said.
“The non-revenue water must speak to the repaired parts because I am very much aware that there are areas where we have done well in repairing water pipes, and we cannot continue to have non-revenue water sitting on those percentages which are closer to the one we opened up in the beginning of the year. We must have a system that is able to give us accurate feedback.”
Ward 18 Councillor, Felix Madzana, raised frustrations over delays in pipe repairs due to lack of resources.
“If a report is sent to the team which is supposed to be attending to the damages of pipes, the report must be made to the councillor. Whenever we make these reports we’ve been told there’s no car, there is no money, and this has been the same issue for the past two years. Can the council acquire resources so that these leaks are attended to in time,” Cllr Madzana said.
Responding to the concerns, Mayor David Coltart said the city had a computerised system for handling reports from councillors and departments.
“My understanding is that there is a computer system whereby reports are inputed to a computer and are given a number. That means it must be possible to track those reports. Once a report is made, it’s given a reference number and when it’s been dealt with it’s then cancelled because you know that report has then been dealt with, and if there’s a problem, the problem is then indicated in that report,” he said.
“We should have a mechanism that councillors can access so that they don’t just make the report but they can see what’s happening regarding the report.”
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How can they be serious when the Council meetings are becoming like a Debating Society as pointed out by Councillor Dumisani Nkomo?
On the other hand there has been an article where Councillors are raising alarm over poor roads and faulty traffic lights and wanting the residents to fix the problem with the roads.
These Councillors including the Mayor Deputy Mayor need to change their mindset the residents are struggling physically and physcologically with all the FILTH around them GARBAGE AND ILLEGAL VENDORS ON STREETS AND PAVEMENTS
The Mayor Councillors and @CityofBulawayo staff members need to realise that this FILTHY city faces stiff competition from other african cities
The very Lack of Transparency is playing its part in all this funds lost to brief case companies and not investigated and noone brought to book? and at the same time the So called Economic Development Officer at City of Bulawayo with Councillors are looking to residents who possibly live out of the city for assistance
* The Economic Development Officer all members of staff at City of Bulawayo Mayor Deputy Mayor and Councillors all working from the comfort of their CLEAN offices (while the residents have to endure the FILTHY surroundings ) need to ensure that this FILTHY CITY is CLEANED UP BEFORE LURING business to the city?
Cite should interview the Communications Manager at City of Bulawayo