Bulawayo residents face a worsening water crisis after the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) suspended its 120-hour water rationing program due to reduced pumping capacity at the Ncema Dam plant undergoing maintenance.
This follows two weeks without water in high-lying areas, sparking frustration and concerns.
Talking to Bustop-TV, Winos Dube, chairman of the Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA), described the situation as “dire” and urged authorities to expedite the Lake Gwayi-Shangani project, seen as a critical long-term solution.
“The situation is no longer bearable, and we don’t even know when we will have water in our city again.
“The government/city council should step up their efforts on the Lake Gwayi-Shangani project: it’s the only way to solve Bulawayo’s water problems,” Dube said.
Resident Nelson Dube added concerns about the potential health risks with a recent cholera outbreak, highlighting the urgency of water access.
“The ongoing water shortage, now in its 15th day, presents a significant public health concern by potentially facilitating the spread of cholera”, Dube said.
Despite the crisis, industrial areas and the Central Business District remain exempt from the suspension, raising questions about equity and prioritizing economic activities over residents’ basic needs.
The BCC appeals to the government to declare Bulawayo a water shortage area, facilitating access to resources for short and medium-term interventions.
However, residents remain uncertain about when normal water supply will resume, demanding concrete action and long-term solutions beyond stop-gap measures.
