Barbourfields residents in Bulawayo continue to experience prolonged water cuts despite the local authority lifting the water-shedding programme.
The residents have been facing water shortages for the past three weeks.
Council has attributed the continued water woes in certain parts of the city to the ageing water infrastructure.
The residents complained that despite their efforts to engage the local authority not much has been done to address their issue.
They said they rely on getting water at Mpilo hospital which puts them at risk of Covid-19 as they would be crowded at the water source.
“We haven’t had running water for the past three weeks. Only a few houses were lucky to get water on Thursday last week but it was just for a few hours. We are forced to go Mpilo hospital to get water but half the time they chase us away and we return empty-handed,” Sifiso Moyo told CITE.
“What bothers us is we haven’t received any communication from the city council despite our efforts to engage them. Our area has no problem with burst pipes or any water loss risks but still, we don’t have water. Suburbs such as Mzilikazi which are just next to us are enjoying uninterrupted water supplies.”
Caretaker councillor for Barbourfields Shadreck Sibanda acknowledged the issue and said the council engineering department is working on the matter.
“The affected area is on higher ground so it is difficult for water to reach their houses. The engineering department is busy working on the affected area. They want to install what are called non-return valves and the process is not an easy one but indeed efforts are being made to ensure that the problem is solved,” Cllr Sibanda said.
The city’s supply dams have received significant inflows following good rains.
Insiza dam is currently at 83.64 percent full, Inyakuni 65 percent, Lower Ncema 42,18 percent, Umzingwane 35.5 percent, Upper Ncema 76.55 percent and Mshabezi is at 68.85 percent.
