By Staff Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S second largest city, Bulawayo, is facing a distressing situation due to a severe water crisis, which has prompted the mayor to call for divine intervention.
Bulawayo Mayor, David Coltart says the city is grappling with an acute water shortage exacerbated by low dam levels, power outages, and insufficient government funding for infrastructure upgrades.
Posting on social media, Coltart said the city’s dams are at a critically low capacity, holding just over 24%, with most of the remaining water located in Insiza and Mtshabezi dams, with the situation set to worsen, as the Lower Ncema dam is set to be decommissioned.
“Our dams are collectively holding just over 24% of their capacity with most water remaining in Insiza & Mtshabezi dams.
“Lower Ncema will be decommissioned soon which will seriously affect our ability to balance the supply of water to the Ncema water treatment works & pumping station.
“Umzingwane dam (pictured below) and Upper Ncema have already been decommissioned,” said Coltart
Adding to the crisis, Coltart said the long hours of electricity (ZESA) outages have also reduced water delivery capabilities.
“Our ability to supply water to the city is being seriously undermined by lengthy power outages. For example, recently Mtshabezi pump station went without power for 8 consecutive days, dramatically reducing the amount of water we have been able to deliver to the city.
“The reservoir at Criterion (which enables a smooth supply of water), as a result of low dam levels and the power outages, is exceptionally low and water is now being pumped directly into the water purification works.
“Normally the reservoir is kept almost full so that there is a smooth and continuous supply of water through the purification works,” said Coltart.
Meanwhile, Coltart said the government is yet to avail financial assistance to upgrade the Insiza dam.
“Most of the finances promised by the government to upgrade both the Insiza & Mtshabezi pipelines (to increase the supply of water from those dams) have not been provided yet and so this work has not started.
“Although we did have some rain in our catchment areas in November, because of the dryness of the land and rampant gold panning in our catchment areas, there have been insignificant inflows to all our dams since the onset of the rainy season.
“Compounding this situation is the above average temperatures experienced in December which has led to increased evaporation. As a result our dam levels have continued to drop,” said Coltart
In a heartfelt plea, the mayor prayed for divine intervention, calling on the “Lord Almighty to cause rain to fall and fill our dams,” pointing out the danger while also pleading for calmness from the residents of Bulawayo.
“The consequence of all of the above is that it has been exceptionally difficult for our engineers to deliver sufficient water to residents and as a result across the city the majority of residents are experiencing increasingly lengthy periods without water supplies.
“The situation is deeply regretted but is largely beyond our control. The Bulawayo City Council is doing all in its power to alleviate the situation. We ask for residents’ understanding.
“At this time of grave crisis, I call on the Lord Almighty to cause rain to fall and fill our dams,” said Coltart.
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