Bulawayo residents said the water crisis needs urgent solutions as the city’s dam capacity declines, falling far short of daily needs, prompting many to ask for comprehensive solutions to a problem that has plagued the city for decades.
The residents underscored the urgent need for timely government intervention in terms of financial resources and long-term planning to secure the city’s water future.
These comments come after Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart inspected key water infrastructure with Minister of Water, Dr Anxious Masuka last Friday, where alarming water constraints were revealed, prompting urgent calls for government action.
Coltart and Masuka assessed the status of the Mtshabezi and Insiza dam pump stations and despite Mshabezi Dam being over 50 percent full, the mayor highlighted that its pipeline to the Umzingwane pump station has a maximum capacity of just 17 megalitres per day, well below the city’s requirement of 165 megalitres.
Due to intermittent power outages, which result in only six hours of operational power daily, actual pumping rates drop to approximately 13 megalitres.
Coltart emphasised the urgency of addressing these limitations, stating, “The current situation means that while there is water available, we are unable to access it effectively.”
The gravity-fed pipeline exacerbates the issue, reducing flow capacity even further to about 9 megaliters by the time it reaches Ncema.
Dr Masuka also pledged to address funding delays from the Treasury that have hindered necessary upgrades to the water infrastructure and also planned to waive procurement procedures to expedite these urgent works, including a crucial upgrade to the pumps at Umzingwane, which is expected to be completed within two weeks.
Furthermore, Masuka agreed to advocate for the installation of a solar power system at the Mshabezi pump station to enhance operational hours.
In interviews with CITE, residents said sustainable and practical solutions were needed by the city as they are the ones who bear the brunt of water scarcity.
Mr Dubley, a resident of Saucerstown, expressed frustration with the council, urging transparency regarding the declining water levels in the city’s dams.
He said if the dam levels have dropped below expectations due to high temperatures and dry winds causing excessive evaporation, the council should inform residents rather than blaming power maintenance works for disruptions to the water supply schedule.
“The truth will always set you free,” Dubley said.
Future Msebele, a social activist, underscored a pressing need for long-term planning to secure the city’s water future, noting that the water-rationing programme has been insufficient and has “caused more troubles” for residents.
He feared that without political commitment, the water crisis would only worsen without intervention.
“We need the national government to step in and stop politicking but help the city improve its water infrastructure and come up with a sustainable plan for the future,” he said, adding there were a number of solutions that could be implemented such as new technology, recycling and harvesting.
“The national government must also prioritise the Gwayi-Shangani project and the construction of additional dams. Give people real timelines, not lies.”
Dr Khanyile Mlotshwa, a critical studies scholar concurred that “temporary fixes” to address the water crisis were over as the city needed “bold, forward-thinking solutions.”
“The water crisis is not just about today, it’s about securing Bulawayo’s future,” he said, suggesting that authorities tap into colleges and universities to come up with innovative solutions on how to address water challenges.
“Without proper long-term planning, we are going to keep facing the same challenges year after year. The government must take this issue seriously and the council must also communicate with residents. Ideas should be taken on board because residents of Bulawayo deserve better.”
During the inspection tour, the mayor noted that the situation at Insiza dam is similarly precarious, currently at only 38 percent capacity and experiencing rapid evaporation.
Despite a design capacity of 55 megaliters per day, current deliveries hover around 46 megaliters due to technical issues.
Coltart remarked that clearing siltation along the pipeline could restore it closer to its original capacity, but this too has been stalled by funding delays.
In light of these challenges, Coltart warned, “If Inyankuni dam, which is at only 18 percent capacity, dries up, we will be left with a dangerously inadequate total supply.”
He reiterated the urgency of starting construction on the Glassblock Bopoma dam, which could yield an additional 70 megaliters per day.
With a timeline of two years for completion, Coltart insists that immediate approvals are critical to avoid future crises.
“In future, the Treasury should allocate more funds towards water and sanitation because the crisis in Bulawayo shows that funds are needed to tackle water issues. The availability of funds and significant investment will lead to the construction of dams and modernisation of water infrastructure in areas that are water stressed,” Dr Mlotshwa summed.
