Residents of Bulawayo are enduring a dry festive season as ongoing water shortages continue to plague the city.
Many households have been without running water for weeks, with the situation remaining critical.
Despite the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) informing councillors that the city was gradually returning to a 130-hour water-shedding schedule, the restoration of water supplies has been hampered by a combination of natural factors, such as rain and thunderstorms, as well as technical challenges.
In Ward 20 (Nkulumane), residents experienced a dry Christmas. When water was eventually restored, many expressed concerns about its quality, citing an unpleasant odour and some reporting stomach aches after consumption.
In a notice to residents on Monday, Town Clerk Christopher Dube announced the interruption of water supplies to all areas of the city.
Dube explained that a power outage occurred on 29 December 2024 at 03:48 AM at the Ncema and Fernhill Booster Station, resulting in damage to the line connecting the two transformers feeding the Ncema Waterworks. “This has resulted in the inability to pump water to the city. Electricians from the City of Bulawayo and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) are working tirelessly to resolve the issue,” he said.
He further noted that operations at the Inyankuni Booster Station have been impacted by reduced pumping capacity. “Only one of the two booster pumps is operational due to a mechanical fault on the second pump. Fitters are working to repair the damaged equipment,” Dube said.
Adding to the challenges, an electrical fault occurred at the Nyamandlovu Booster Station on 30 December 2024. “This has led to the inability to pump water to the Cowdray Park Booster Station,” he added.
Dube also reported a major burst on the main bulk line supplying raw water to the Criterion Waterworks, which occurred on 28 December 2024. “Teams are on the ground, working tirelessly to repair the burst,” he said.
Currently, there is no pumping from both the Nyamandlovu and Ncema pump stations. Dube assured residents that supplies would resume once reservoirs are stabilized. “The City of Bulawayo sincerely apologizes to its valued consumers for the inconvenience caused by these erratic water supplies,” he said.
