Bulawayo Mayor Calls for Urgent Action to Address Water Crisis

Bulawayo Mayor Senator, David Coltart has made a clarion call to address the water crisis in Bulawayo emphasising potentially catastrophic drought caused by El Nino, citing satellite imagery that revealed a lack of rainfall in Southern Africa.

Speaking at the launch of Mahatshula East Phase 1 fully serviced stands, Clr Coltart stressed the need for responsible leadership in preparing for the worst-case scenario.

“I was horrified by the satellite image I looked at this morning. There is literally no cloud anywhere in Southern Africa except Malawi,” said Clr Coltart.

He added, “All the forecasts are that El Nino is firmly in place and that we are facing potentially a catastrophic drought. We hope that it doesn’t happen. But we need as responsible leaders to plan for the worst possible scenario.”

Water Crisis

Highlighting the urgent water crisis facing Bulawayo, the mayor addressed the two recent developments that cannot be ignored.

The first issue he raised was the budget allocation for dams and pipelines, which fell drastically short of the required funding. Citing the cost of the Shangani pipeline alone, he emphasised the need for realistic financial planning to meet the city’s water infrastructure needs.

He stated, “The Honourable Minister of Finance, in his budget announced a figure of $67 million for the construction of all dams and pipelines in Zimbabwe in 2024. My understanding is that the Gwayi -Shangani pipeline alone will cost 400 million. What we can get from that Honourable Minister is that with the best intentions of the government, it will take if every single cent of next year’s allocation were to be applied to the Shangani pipeline that would take us over six years to build that pipeline by dividing 400 by 67 million. That is a harsh reality. It’s not a criticism, but it is a harsh financial reality.”

Dire State

Lastly, the mayor discussed the dire state of dams and limited water delivery capacity, particularly from the dams Insiza and Mtshabezi.

He revealed his meeting with the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate, and Rural Resettlement, Honourable Chitando, where he presented proposals for short-term solutions to alleviate the water shortage.

These short-term measures include maximising the Nyamandlovu drive for aquifer capacity and constructing a pipeline from Mtshabezi to the pump station Umzingwane. By implementing these projects within months, the water supply to the city could be substantially increased by approximately 40 megalitres per day.

Coltart expressed gratitude for the minister’s constructive response and urged for closer collaboration to declare Bulawayo a water shortage area. This designation is critical to accessing additional finance beyond government support and ensuring uninterrupted water supply to residents and ongoing infrastructure projects.

Short-Term Solutions

He emphasised the need for immediate action to address the water crisis, calling for joint efforts in securing short-term solutions and safeguarding the supply of water to all residents, including the Mahatshula East Phase 1 stands.

In response to Coltart’s call, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution funds, Judith Ncube revealed that the government urges residents to embrace sustainable and climate-friendly practices.

Minister Ncube suggested the use of solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems to make the new homes more environmentally friendly.

“The electricity load shedding and water shedding challenges that our country and city face require us to embrace innovative technologies. By utilising solar panels and adopting rainwater harvesting habits, we can create sustainable and climate-friendly homes,” Minister Ncube stated.