The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is urging residents to join in lobbying the government to declare the city a water crisis area, stressing the need for collective action.
Both the local authority and Mayor David Coltart have been vocal in calling on the government to officially recognize the city’s severe water shortage.
With the city’s supply dams now at just 30% capacity, the council recently held a water situation update meeting with residents to address the worsening conditions.
Currently, residents are enduring 120-hour water cuts, with some areas experiencing even longer disruptions, sometimes lasting months without water.
Speaking during a recent meeting, Chamber Secretary Sikhangele Zhou emphasised the urgency of government intervention.
“As residents, we need to engage in lobbying and advocacy to urge the government to deliver water from Lake Gwayi, which should have arrived yesterday,” Zhou said.
“The government is responsible for building dams, not the local authority. While we support all efforts to improve our water bodies, our hands are tied—we don’t manage the dams; they are controlled by ZINWA under the Ministry of Water. We must continue to advocate for faster completion of projects like the Gwayi-Shangani Dam.”
Mayor Coltart shared ongoing efforts to address the crisis, noting his engagement with the Minister of Local Government and the Minister of Water since December last year.
“We’ve had constructive discussions, and Minister Mthuli Ncube promised in April to disburse US$14 million to address short-term needs. However, only $1.5 million has been released so far. We urgently need the rest of the funds to complete critical infrastructure projects, like reconfiguring pipelines. This work is complex and takes time, so we plead with the government to release the funds as quickly as possible,” Coltart said.
The Mayor added, “If we, the residents, the city council, and the government, all work together, we can overcome this crisis, but everyone must play their part.”
In response to the situation, some residents suggested contributing financially to address the water challenges. One resident, Meeting Sibanda, proposed a $1 water levy from each resident to help fund the necessary improvements. “We can’t always rely on donors; we need to take action ourselves,” Sibanda said.
Another resident, Nkomazana, said there is a need for united action. “It’s unfortunate that we don’t prioritise crucial water issues. We need to stand up and show the government that the city needs water. If we all unite and advocate, I believe we can make a difference,” he urged.
