KEY POINTS
- Bulawayo’s water supply may end by year’s close.
- Boreholes provide temporary relief, but demand exceeds supply.
- City officials urge government aid for lasting solutions.
According to NewZimbabwe.com, as the year nears its end, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, faces the possibility of a complete water supply shutdown. City officials warn that unless significant rain falls soon, residents will be left with no tap water due to a combination of severe drought, insufficient infrastructure, and limited government support. Bulawayo residents are already enduring water restrictions that limit access to five-and-a-half days a week without piped water. Mayor David Coltart emphasizes the urgency of the crisis, saying that while wealthier residents may afford private boreholes, those in poorer neighborhoods are left with few options for relief.
Water crisis deepens in Bulawayo
Bulawayo’s water shortage is a result of multiple factors, including the worst drought in 40 years. Reservoirs supplying the city are nearly empty, and out of six dams, three cannot provide any water. Efforts to build a new dam, the Gwayi-Shangani Dam, halted in 2022 due to insufficient funding. While President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently promised water from this project, city officials are skeptical, noting that the required $48 million remains unavailable.
For now, the city relies on around 400 community boreholes as a temporary solution. In poorer districts, residents often queue until late at night for a chance to fill containers with water, enduring a harsh reality that has become part of daily life. Some residents, like Ronald Nkala, travel over a mile to fetch water from boreholes, carrying heavy containers back home.
Boreholes become lifeline amid severe drought
The city’s boreholes provide some relief, but demand is so high that drilling companies are unable to keep up. According to Patricia Madhara, director of Sealane Borehole Drilling, their equipment is in constant use, with a long waiting list of clients. For those who cannot afford private boreholes, the city council has been installing public boreholes. However, the cost of drilling, plus maintenance fees, is prohibitive for many residents. In response, some people are turning to night-time drilling to avoid fees, but this practice complicates the city’s efforts to monitor water use.
Government response and long-term water solutions
Efforts to address the water crisis have been hindered by lack of government support. The central government has yet to declare the water crisis a state of disaster, a move that would unlock funding from international donors. This refusal leaves Bulawayo’s city council without resources to address the immediate need. Local officials and experts stress that long-term solutions are crucial, including investments in new infrastructure and water-saving policies.
As residents brace for the dry season, the future remains uncertain. Without immediate intervention, Bulawayo may soon experience an exodus, with people moving in search of water. For many, this crisis underscores the long-standing neglect of Bulawayo’s infrastructure needs and raises critical questions about the role of government in safeguarding essential resources.
