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The City of Bulawayo has officially decommissioned the Upper Ncema Dam due to critically low water levels.
In a recent notice to residents, the council announced that Upper Ncema is the second dam to be decommissioned since November 2023, following the decommissioning of UMzingwane Dam.
As of October 2, 2024, the water levels in Bulawayo’s dams were as follows: Insiza at 40.33%, Inyankuni at 18.07%, Lower Ncema at 21.46%, and Mtshabezi at 50.79%. UMzingwane, which has been decommissioned, recorded 2.14%, while Upper Ncema was at 2.03%. Said the council:
<blockquote>
The Upper Ncema Dam, a crucial Reservoir located on the same river as the Lower Ncema Dam, was intended to replenish the latter during the dry season. 
However, due to the ongoing drought, the dam gates had to be opened prematurely on August 28, 2024. 
Consequently, the Upper Ncema Dam has reached its non-operational level (dead-water level) and will be decommissioned effective October 3, 2024.
</blockquote>
The local authority has informed residents that the decommissioning of the Upper Ncema Dam will significantly worsen the City’s water supply challenges.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

The city of Bulawayo has stopped using Upper Ncema Dam because there is not enough water. This is the second dam to be closed in recent times. The other dams in Bulawayo are also low on water. Upper Ncema had to be closed early because of a drought. This will make the water shortage in Bulawayo even worse. This news will affect the people living in Bulawayo who may have less water available to them.

Bulawayo Water Crisis Deepens As Upper Ncema Dam Is Decommissioned

The government has declined to declare Bulawayo a water disaster area, attributing the city’s water crisis to mismanagement by the local council rather than climate factors.
Minister of Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi, who also leads government business in Parliament, said on Wednesday that councils in both Bulawayo and the capital, Harare, have failed to serve their residents effectively over the past two decades.
According to <a href="https://cite.org.zw/govt-refuses-to-declare-byo-a-water-disaster-area-cites-council-mismanagement/">CITE</a>, Bulawayo has faced a severe raw water shortage for many years, a situation that residents and local leaders believe demands urgent intervention.
The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) recently announced that the city’s supply dams are operating at just 29% capacity and has called on the central government to declare Bulawayo a water disaster area.
However, in response to questions from legislators during Wednesday’s parliamentary session, Ziyambi asserted that the circumstances do not justify a national disaster declaration. Said Ziyambi:
<blockquote>
We have refrained from declaring a disaster where we feel there is mismanagement by our local authorities. The majority of our local authorities, including Harare, even have their billing systems in shambles.
If there are local authorities that should not be broke, they are Harare and Bulawayo, but for the past 20 or so years, they have failed in their roles as city leaders.
</blockquote>
He said before the government could consider declaring a disaster, it needed to address the administrative failures of the council. Added Ziyambi:
<blockquote>
We are now working to upgrade the systems because they have failed. When we feel that we need help after dealing with our local authorities, then we can act, but for now, we do not believe there is an issue that requires a national disaster declaration.
</blockquote>
Ziyambi’s response came after Bulawayo MP Thokozani Khupe implored the government to declare the city a water shortage area this could help Bulawayo access external funding and bring a permanent resolution to the crisis.
Khupe also pointed out that water from boreholes in the Nyamandlovu aquifer, a critical water source for Bulawayo, has dropped to about five megalitres per day, against a potential of 26.
In response, Ziyambi claimed the government was committed to solving Bulawayo’s water problems, saying that once the Gwayi-Shangani project is complete, it will have enough water for its needs. Said Ziyambi:
<blockquote>
What we have realised is that the current water shortages in Bulawayo are not due to insufficient raw water, but because the water reticulation system is outdated.
We have agreed that instead of scattering projects across the country, we will focus on one area and refurbish it completely before moving on to the next.
We are going to start with Bulawayo because we need to replace all the pipes and redo the water reticulation system to ensure continuous water delivery.
This is not a project that will be completed overnight, but we have committed to starting with Bulawayo, even before the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani project.
</blockquote>
Last week the Bulawayo City Council temporarily discontinued water supplies to all city areas except for the city centre and industrial site, due to low reservoir levels.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The government says Bulawayo's water crisis is not because of climate but council mismanagement. The City Council asked for help as dams are only at 29% capacity. The government blames the council's poor management. They want to upgrade systems before declaring a national disaster. They are focused on fixing the water reticulation system in Bulawayo. The government says once a new water project is complete, there will be enough water for everyone. They stopped water supplies to some areas due to low reservoir levels but are working on the problem.

Government Blames Council, Not Climate For Bulawayo's Water Crisis

The City of Bulawayo’s supply dams are just over 33 percent of their capacity with two more dams set to be decommissioned in the coming weeks.
The local authority decommissioned the Umzingwane Dam in November last year due to low water levels, and now council officials have announced that the Upper and Lower Ncema dams will also be decommissioned soon.
According to statistics provided by the Bulawayo City Council, the city’s supply dams are 33,16 per cent full, reported <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/two-more-supply-dams-to-be-decommissioned/">The Sunday News</a>.
The latest council report shows that as of Friday last week, Insiza was at 46,21 per cent, Inyankuni at 23,65 per cent, Lower Ncema at 24,63 per cent, Umzingwane at 2,69 per cent, Upper Ncema at 8,99 per cent and Mtshabezi at 54,71 per cent. Reads the report:
<blockquote>
The current 2023-2024 rainy season had approached an end with the city’s cumulative inflows to date being 17,7 million cubic metres, which translated to 4,28 per cent of the city’s dam’s full holding capacity. 
Furthermore, in comparison to a similar time in 2023, the dams held 19,92 per cent more water than presently.
Abstraction from supply dams totalled 2,9 million cubic metres while Mtshabezi pumped 324 565 cubic metres, thus an average delivery of 8,000 cubic metres a day versus the anticipated 17,000 cubic metres a day.
The variation was attributed to breakdowns and power outages affecting water delivery from Mtshabezi to Umzingwane for the years 2023 and 2024.
</blockquote>
The council said the Upper Ncema and Lower Ncema dams were projected to be decommissioned towards the end of July 2024.
This will result in the city relying on the Inyankuni, Insiza and Mtshabezi dams as well as the Nyamandlovu Aquifer only.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo Council To Decommission Two More Supply Dams

Bulawayo’s water crisis may not ease in the short term because many of the boreholes being drilled by the government in and around the city are yielding no water.
Speaking to the <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200026612/byo-water-crisis-set-to-worsen">Southern Eye</a>, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution secretary Paul Nyoni said the water table in the city has gone down and as a result, they have failed to reach their target for boreholes. Said Nyoni:
<blockquote>
We have sunk boreholes in the city using the drilling rig from the government, but the main problem is that there is a high percentage of dry holes.
At most times, we will have a target to sink several boreholes, but because of the water table, we do not sink the desired number.
</blockquote>
The Bulawayo metropolitan province received one drilling rig from the central government in 2023 to help ease the city’s water crisis which has seen the council cutting off water supplies for about 120 hours a week.
Nyoni revealed that besides a receding water table attributed to El Niño-induced drought, authorities are also facing the challenge of vandalism. He said:
<blockquote>
We have been drilling boreholes mainly in institutions or if I can say parastatals that have enough security.
We have not been drilling in open spaces because there is a lot of vandalism going on hence the reason why many communities have not been noticing so much of our work.
</blockquote>
Nyoni said the provincial leadership was expecting the central government to provide another drilling rig to ensure that residents of the country’s second-largest city have access to the precious liquid.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo Water Crisis May Worsen As New Boreholes Fail To Yield Water

The Mayor of Bulawayo, Councillor David Coltart, has remained steadfast in opposing a motion to spend US$300 000 on an arts festival next month saying the council desperately needs funds to provide water to ratepayers.
This follows reports that the Bulawayo City Council (BCC)’s finance committee budgeted US$300 000 for the Bulawayo Arts Festival.
The request to fund the festival was tabled during a meeting held on April 23. The festival is set to be held from 2 to 5 June, after the commemoration of Bulawayo Day on June 1.
In an interview with <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200026550/coltart-sticks-to-his-guns-on-arts-festival">Southern Eye</a>, Coltart, however, denied that he walked out on councillors after they failed to agree on the matter. He said:
<blockquote>
I expressed my view and then gave my apologies and left to go to another meeting. I didn’t walk out. It was a perfectly amicable debate going on.
</blockquote>
Bulawayo is currently under a 120-hour water-shedding programme after it decommissioned the Mzingwane Dam.
Coltart, who was the Education Minister during the GNU era (2009-13), said all council resources should be diverted towards ensuring that the local authority doesn’t run out of water. Said Coltart:
<blockquote>
This year we are facing major water shortages. For example, we have to raise US$15 million to rehabilitate the pipeline, and although we have had promises from the government, we have not received the money yet. We must divert all possible resources towards ensuring that we don’t run out of water.
As you know, many people, particularly in high-density areas, are at best getting water one day a week. That is going to worsen. Our dams are sitting at 39% at the end of the rainy season.
Because of that, we must ensure that all possible reserves that are not used, for example, for the payment of salaries and critical services are directed towards the water crisis.
As soon as things are stabilised, we will do all in our power to adequately fund arts and culture.
</blockquote>
The Bulawayo City Council recently requested the government to declare the city a water crisis area to allow for the mobilisation of international support for short-to-medium-term solutions.
However, the government rejected the request, saying its technical team was still studying water levels at the city’s supply dams.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Council Should Prioritise Water Provision Over Arts Festival Funding - Bulawayo Mayor

Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor David Coltart, said that the city council needs to raise 150 million dollars to build the Glass Block Dam and rehabilitate the water pumps to address the city’s perennial water crisis.
<a href="https://cite.org.zw/byo-mayor-appeals-for-us150-million-to-build-glass-block-dam/">CITE</a> reported that a team of engineers has proposed building the Glass Block Dam in Filabusi, which will be capable of providing 70 per cent of Bulawayo’s water needs.
Coltart said there was consensus between the central government and the local authority on the need to construct the Glass Block Dam. He said (via CITE):
<blockquote>
Once again we praise God, there is consensus with the central government that we need to build a glass block dam and the pipeline from Glassblock to Ncema Dam. Thank God for that consensus.
We need to raise 150 million dollars to build the glass block and build a pipeline to rehabilitate the Ncema pump station and expand the Tuli reservoir on the outskirts of our city. Let us pray specifically for that. Those are our water needs.
</blockquote>
Coltart also stated that the city requires US$14 million to tackle short-term water issues.
Additionally, he revealed that Bulawayo’s sewerage systems are operating at only 20 per cent efficiency. He said:
<blockquote>
Many of you I know are battling with raw sewage in your yards. Councillor (Lezina) Mohamed took me to Thorngrove two weeks ago and I was appalled by what I saw.
Young children were close to raw sewage flowing in the streets, close to houses, close to schools, close to clinics.
Unfortunately, that is a consequence of our sewage systems not functioning, they are working at about 20 per cent capacity.
</blockquote>
The mayor said the council is working with private companies and other stakeholders to invest in the rehabilitation of the city’s sewerage system.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo Needs US$150 Million To Address Water Crisis - Mayor

The City of Bulawayo says residents will continue receiving water for only two days per week, as water levels continue to dwindle at major supply dams due to drought.
The current 120-hour weekly water-shedding period might be increased to 140 hours.
This was said by Bulawayo director of engineering services, Sikhumbuzo Ncube, on Tuesday, 12 March during a tour of some of the city’s water projects by Netherlands Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Margret Verwijk.
Verwijk visited several projects including the city’s Revenue Hall and four water kiosks that were installed around the city to improve access to water.
The four water kiosks are located in Magwegwe (two), Cowdray Park, and Nkulumane.
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city is experiencing a 120-hour water-shedding period as it seeks to conserve water. Said Ncube (<a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/120-hour-water-shedding-to-continue-till-supplies-improve/">via Chronicle</a>):
<blockquote>
We all appreciate that the water situation remains critical. Our water levels in the city dams are at 41 percent yet we are approaching the end of the rainy season.
This means we are going to sustain the 120-hour weekly water shedding period for a prolonged period maybe up to December.
By June we might even need to review the water shedding programme depending on the water situation in our dams. We might need to increase to a 140 hour-weekly water shedding period.
At the moment we will try to maintain the 120 weekly water shedding, meaning residents will continue to receive water twice a week.
</blockquote>
Verwijk said that The Netherlands has a lot of expertise in water resource management and it was encouraging to see communities being involved in protecting water infrastructure in Bulawayo.
Communities are in charge of the water kiosks and bear the costs of repairing any infrastructure that is damaged. Said the diplomat:
<blockquote>
I come from a country, which is very small. It fits into Mashonaland West, it is very tiny but water and water management is something that we have mastered very well.
Some of the land we gained from the sea, we didn’t occupy anyone’s land, we took it from the sea.
Water management and protecting ourselves from the sea and utilising all the rivers in the Netherlands for the purposes of production agriculture, household water consumption is something that we are specialised in.
So, it is very nice to see that Dutch water utilities and water operations are supporting your community in accessing potable and clean water. It is important, water is life.
</blockquote>
Verwijk said her country has been supporting water management in Bulawayo, Mutare and Harare, with the aim of providing safe drinking water to communities.
She urged residents to pay their bills saying “Water is not for free, clean potable water is very valuable and it was good to see that people start to understand that, so that the revenues are actually realised.”
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo's 120-hour Water Shedding May Be Raised To 140 Hours

The government has pledged to assist the City of Bulawayo address the city’s perennial acute water shortages.
Bulawayo’s water supply has been dwindling for years, exacerbated by factors such as climate change, population growth, and poor resource management.
Addressing journalists in Bulawayo this week, Local Government and Public Works Minister Winston Chitando, said (via Southern Eye):
<blockquote>
There was a disbursement of ZWL$6.9 billion at the end of February for the City of Bulawayo as part of devolution funds.
Some of that money is required in local currency and some of it in foreign currency depending on the nature of what the local authority projects to be implemented.
For example, if they want to buy cement they will use that local currency, but if they want to purchase inputs from outside the country they will now need to go to the foreign exchange mechanism to get money through the central bank.
We are going to have a regular conduct to see how we as a ministry of governance can then play that interface role with the Finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to ensure we have critical situations like we have here whereby we try to facilitate [on] foreign currency.
</blockquote>
Chitando said the short-term solution to the water situation in Bulawayo is to improve security at Nyamandlovu. He said:
<blockquote>
The short-term measure to address the water situation in Bulawayo, firstly is the security arrangements at Nyamandlovu that will be implemented.
There is a need to source for the US$14m required and BCC has a number of partners to participate in funding the project-we will assist the city to get foreign currency to address the water situation in the short term period.
</blockquote>
The Nyamandlovu Aquifer is a crucial water source located in the Forest Sandstone region near Bulawayo.
Boreholes in the area typically range from 30 to 100 meters deep, with varying water levels.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Pledges To Assist Bulawayo Address Water Crisis

Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister, Anxious Jongwe Masuka said that the prevailing El Nino spell will dissipate by May this year giving way to a neutral phase.
El Niño occurs on average every two to seven years and typically lasts nine to 12 months.
El Niño and La Niña are the extreme phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle; between these two phases is a third phase called ENSO-neutral.
In November 2023, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said the current El Niño developed rapidly during July-August and reached moderate strength by September 2023 and was expected to peak as a strong event in November – January 2024.
Speaking on Wednesday at a media briefing soon after he met with the Bulawayo Technical Committee on Improving Water Supply at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex in Bulawayo, Masuka said (<a href="https://www.zimlive.com/masuka-says-el-nino-season-to-subside-in-three-months/">via ZimLive</a>):
<blockquote>
Fortunately, the El Nino is rapidly waning and it is predicted that by April or May 2024, we will be in a neutral phase and we look forward to even a normal rainfall season next year.
So, the crisis will probably have been short-lived thus we requested the technical committee to look at that.
</blockquote>
Masuka also said the Technical Committee will explore ways in which to maximise the Nyamandlovu aquifer which is currently producing 12 million litres a day and exploit more aquifers around the province. He said:
<blockquote>
We asked the committee to refocus their efforts on ensuring that the Nyamandlovu aquifer can give us the maximum that it was designed for, currently, we are getting 12 Mega-litres from it but we expect that the minimum we should be getting is 16 megalitres.
This low water harvest in our aquifer is due to vandalism taking place but we are going to activate state security apparatus to ensure that this is nipped in the bud.
Apart from adding more aquifers, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has proposed a Private Sector Investment in one of the dams and this team will expedite the evaluation process so that the approvals can be granted formally for this complementary investment.
As the government, we are looking at a long-term supply guarantee solution which is the Gwayi-Shangani River that will see 220 megalitres a day going into the city and giving Bulawayo eight years of water supply.
</blockquote>
The Technical Committee was set up to assist the City of Bulawayo in ensuring that they have adequate and safe water.
In December 2023, the City of Bulawayo extended water rationing by an additional 48 hours, bringing the total rationing time to 120 hours.
Authorities said the decision was made due to a significant drop in water levels in the city’s dams.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Adverse El Nino Phase To Subside By April - Minister Masuka

Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart has urged residents not to panic about the current water situation, saying the local authority is devising strategies to ensure the availability of the precious liquid throughout the dry season.
On 24 February this year, the Bulawayo City Council advised residents of water supply interruptions and suspension of the 120-hour water shedding programme to all city areas except industry and the Central Business District.
In a statement, Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube said the move was in response to reduced raw water pumping to the city as a result of a fault which occurred at Ncema Pump Station.
Bulawayo City Council (BCC) Director of Engineering Services, Engineer Skhumbuzo Ncube, said the water situation has been worsening since 2018.
However, speaking during the stakeholder consultative meeting to unpack the local authority’s service delivery blueprint, which was launched by President Mnangagwa on 01 November 2023, Coltart said residents should not panic. Said Coltart (<a href="https://cite.org.zw/no-need-to-panic-bulawayo-mayor-assures-residents-amid-water-crisis/">via CITE</a>):
<blockquote>
It is very important that our general public understand our strategy. Nyamandlovu is our strategy to get it up to full capacity and to protect it.
To do that, we need the police and possibly even the army. If we protect Nyamandlovu, that will help because that water comes into Magwegwe, and Magwegwe supplies the high-density suburbs.
</blockquote>
He said the second strategy is the Mtshabezi Dam, which is over 70 per cent full and the lifeline of the city. Said Coltart:
<blockquote>
We have a strategy where our engineers have devised a plan to protect that water and increase the flow from Mtshabezi.
It is the construction of a 2.5km bypass pipeline. It’s a small job, it can be done, and when it’s done, it will improve the water.
</blockquote>
He said the other strategy is the rehabilitation of Insiza Dam, “We will, as a city, get through this crisis. We must not panic.”
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo Mayor Says Residents Should Not Panic Over Water Crisis

Bulawayo City’s water situation has been worsening since 2018 amid indications that the drought experienced during the 2023/24 rainy season could probably be the worst season since independence in 1980.
This was said by Bulawayo City Council (BCC) Director of Engineering Services, Skhumbuzo Ncube, during the stakeholder consultative meeting to unpack the local authority’s service delivery blueprint, which was launched by President Mnangagwa on 01 November 2023. Said Ncube as per<a href="https://cite.org.zw/no-need-to-panic-bulawayo-mayor-assures-residents-amid-water-crisis/"> CITE</a>:
<blockquote>
We have been in this situation since 2018; the water situation has been worsening since 2018, 2019 till date.
Our dams have never been full since 2018; actually, 2024-2025 might be the worst drought since independence. 1982 was even better than this year in 2024.
Currently, our dams are sitting at 43 per cent. You know that around this time, in February to March, this is the peak of the rainy season.
Naturally, we should have our dams around 65-70 per cent full, but we are at 43 per cent.
We have been shedding water; we had 20 hours in 2022, and it moved to 72 hours in August 2022 up to November 26, 2022. We entered 120 hours recently in December. 
So, the situation is becoming worse and worse, and when the situation worsens, we have those high-lying areas—Tashas in Mganwini, Nkulumane, Pumula, Magwegwe, Entumbane, Cowdray Park.
In those areas, when it is like this, they will always have a problem.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Bulawayo mayor Mayor David Coltart urged residents not to panic saying the local authority has strategies to ensure that taps do not completely run dry during the dry season.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"2023/24 Drought May Be The Worst Since 1980"

Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor David Coltart has painted a bleak picture of the water situation in the city, which recently suspended its 120-hour water rationing regime.
Coltart took pictures of the dry Umzingwane River upstream of Umzingwane Dam, one of Bulawayo’s supply dams on Wednesday morning. He wrote on X:
<blockquote>
The City of Bulawayo faces a major water crisis. Our dams are low and none of the rivers into them are flowing.
This morning I inspected the Umzingwane River upstream of the Umzingwane dam and these are the photos I took.
The river is bone dry – there aren’t even puddles. At this time of year, one would expect at least puddles.
</blockquote>
Coltart urged the Government to urgently declare Bulawayo as a water shortage area to enable the local authority to mobilise funds from third-party financials. He said:
<blockquote>
The government urgently needs to declare Bulawayo as a water shortage area and we need urgent financial assistance to take a variety of short-term remedial measures to mitigate the crisis.
These include getting the Nyamandhlovu aquifer pumps up to full capacity (and then protecting them from theft), constructing a diversionary pipeline on the Mtshabezi pipeline direct to the Umzingwane pump station, upgrading the Inyankuni dam pump station and duplicating the pipeline from Insiza dam to Ncema water purification works.
This needs to be done as a matter of extreme urgency. The BCC and local engineering companies can do all of this but we need urgent financial assistance to do so.
</blockquote>
The City of Bulawayo recently suspended the 120-hour water rationing programme to most of the city owing to reduced pumping capacity at the Ncema Dam plant where there are ongoing maintenance works.
The local authority introduced the 120-hour water-rationing schedule in December last year due to low levels of water in the city’s supply dams.
Before the introduction of the 120-hour water-shedding regime, the city was on a 72-hour water-rationing programme.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo's Rivers "Bone Dry", Supply Dams Terribly Low - Mayor

The Bulawayo City Council has suspended the 120-hour water rationing programme to most of the city owing to reduced pumping capacity at the Ncema Dam plant where there are ongoing maintenance works.
In a statement, Bulawayo town clerk, Christopher Dube, said ongoing repairs and maintenance works at Ncema led to extended water supply interruptions. He said:
<blockquote>
The City of Bulawayo would like to advise members of the public of the extended water supply interruptions and suspension of the 120-hour (rationing) to all city areas except industry and central business district which was initially scheduled to finish on Friday, 16 February 2024.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the repairs and maintenance works at Ncema have taken longer than planned.
The city will continue to experience reduced raw water pumping, which in turn will cause a reduction in treated water production during the scheduled time.
To protect the reservoirs from collapsing due to a reduction in raw water deliveries and treatment, the City of Bulawayo will irregularly open water supplies to prevent communities from stretching too long without water.
</blockquote>
The Bulawayo City Council introduced the 120-hour water-rationing schedule in December last year due to low levels of water in the city’s supply dams.
Before the introduction of the 120-hour water-shedding regime, the city was on a 72-hour water-rationing programme.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo Water Crisis Worsens

The Zimbabwean Government has allocated $7 billion and a borehole drilling rig as a short-term to medium solution to perennial water shortages in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city. The government is still pushing forward with the Lake Gwayi-Shangani project, which is expected to start pumping water in 2025.
The $7 billion fund will primarily be used to repair broken-down boreholes at the Nyamandlovu Aquifer, according to The Herald. The goal is to ensure the pumping of 16 megalitres of water per day at full capacity.
Addressing an inaugural meeting of the 20-member Bulawayo Water Technical Committee at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex yesterday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, reiterated the Government’s commitment to restore basic services such as water and sanitation in Bulawayo. He said the above interventions were part of Vision 2030, which envisages creating an upper middle-income economy. He said:
<blockquote>
Government has availed $6,9 billion towards this project, as well as a drilling rig and this money will be prioritised according to this committee working closely with everyone.
We thought we needed to assist the Bulawayo City Council by putting together a committee that has very broad representation with the skills depth and experience required to accelerate the initiatives at Bulawayo council level.
The 220 megalitres a day that we will be conveyancing from Gwayi-Shangani, is enough to guarantee water for Bulawayo for the next 80 years.
This is why at this stage we do not envisage going beyond Lake Gwayi-Shangani in terms of water supply for Bulawayo.
We would want to stabilise it and then deal with internal issues within Bulawayo, which is ensuring that the non-revenue water is reduced and that the conveyancing of water is reaching areas that we were unable to reach.
In Cowdray Park, there are 25,000 residents that are not able to get water.
</blockquote>
Bulawayo has been grappling with water shortages for many years due to a combination of factors, including rapid population growth, ageing infrastructure, and limited water resources. The situation has been exacerbated by climate change and the unpredictability of rainfall patterns. To address the long-term water shortage, the Gwayi-Shangani Dam was proposed in 1912 as part of the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (MZWP). However, due to a lack of political will and insufficient funding, the dam has yet to be completed. The project was recently awarded to the China International Water and Electric Corporation. 
Once finished, the Gwayi-Shangani Dam will be the third-largest inland water body in Zimbabwe, following Tokwe-Mukosi and Lake Mutirikwi. The dam is located in Region Four, which experiences low rainfall and high temperatures. The government has invested over US$122 million in the project. In 2012, the government took over the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (MZWP) from the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Trust, led by the late Dumiso Dabengwa. The government had promised to accelerate the project’s completion but had limited success.
Engineers estimate that the dam will be 70% complete within three to four years, with water impounding expected to begin in the 2024/2025 season.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Lake Gwayi-Shangani Project Expected To Start Pumping Water In 2025 - Government

The City of Bulawayo has assured residents of the availability of water during the Christmas holiday despite a 120-hour water-shedding regime that has been in place for some time.
The local authority is now relying on two of its supply dams, Insiza and Mtshabezi. The city’s supply dams are Mtshabezi, Upper Ncema, Lower Ncema, Insiza and Umzingwane.
In a recent interview with <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/council-to-ease-water-shedding-over-christmas/">Sunday News</a>, City of Bulawayo Director of Engineering Services, Engineer Sikhumbuzo Ncube, said:
<blockquote>
Our wish has always been to have residents get uninterrupted water supplies during the Christmas holidays, which is why we implemented the five-day water shedding schedule in the first place, to allow inflows into our reservoirs.
We are now monitoring our reservoirs and we can say for now that residents will get uninterrupted supplies during the Christmas holidays.
However, the residents should also work with us by conserving the water because if consumption is high, reservoir levels will drop and we will be forced to implement stringent shedding measures.
</blockquote>
According to the latest dam levels, the city received slight inflows, standing at 44.47 per cent full, up from 43.59 per cent when the five-day shedding schedule was introduced.
Mtshabezi Dam is 72.95 percent full, Insiza Mayfair; 60.23 percent, Inyankuni; 31.42 percent, Upper Ncema; is 22.83 percent, Lower Ncema; is 22.83 percent and Umzingwane Dam is 5.71 percent full.
Bulawayo has perennial water challenges, and the Government is constructing a dam about six kilometres downstream of the confluence of the Gwayi and Shangani rivers under the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (NMZWP) as a long-term measure to address the crisis.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo City Council Promises Residents Uninterrupted Water Supplies During Christmas

The Mayor of Bulawayo, David Coltart says the funds allocated to the construction of dams in the 2024 National Budget are inadequate.
Mthuli Ncube, the Minister of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Promotion, allocated ZWL$389 towards dam construction projects in the country. Said Ncube:
<blockquote>
Under the 2024 National Budget overall support towards dam dam construction projects amounts to Z$389 billion with priority being on the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani dam and pipeline with the dam now at the advanced stage of completion.
Other targetted dams include Kunzvi Dam with the associated treatment plant and conveyancing pipeline, Ziminya, Tulu-Manyange, Bindura, Semwa, Silverstroom and Vungu dams.
</blockquote>
However, Coltart said the total amount allocated to dam construction is less than a quarter of the amount needed for the Gwaai-Shangani to Bulawayo pipeline alone. He said:
<blockquote>
Professor Ncube states that a total of ZWL$369 billion has been allocated for the construction of ALL dams and pipelines in Zimbabwe next year.
He states that his priority is “the completion of the Gwaai Shangani dam and pipeline.”
ZWL$369 billion equates to US$67 million. The Gwaai Shangani to Bulawayo pipeline alone is expected to cost a minimum of US$400 million.
Accordingly, if every single cent of this budget allocation is applied to the pipeline alone it will still take almost 6 years to complete at this rate.
Obviously, it will be much longer than this because the Z$369 billion is the total applied for all dam projects.
Bulawayo simply cannot wait another decade or more. Our engineers insist that our short-term water needs are best served by duplicating the pipelines from the Insiza and Mtshabezi dams to Ncema purification works and building the Glassblock Dam (which will cost about half the cost of the Gwaai Shangani/Bulawayo pipeline.)
I implore the central Government to take what our engineers say seriously. We cannot afford to allow Bulawayo to run out of water when we have water supplies right on our doorstep.
</blockquote>
The City of Bulawayo has been grappling with water shortages for decades as its supply dams cannot provide enough water for the city throughout the year.
The city depends on six supply dams, Insiza, Inyankuni, Lower Ncema, Upper Ncema, Umzingwane, and Mtshabezi which are all located in Matabeleland South Province.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"ZWL$369 Billion Allocated To Dam Construction Projects Too Little"

The City of Bulawayo may be forced to prolong the 72-hour water-shedding regime due to the low levels of water in the city’s supply dams, reported <a href="https://cite.org.zw/bulawayo-braces-for-extended-water-shedding-as-dam-levels-dwindle/">CITE</a>.
Bulawayo depends on six supply dams, Insiza, Inyankuni, Lower Ncema, Upper Ncema, Umzingwane, and Mtshabezi which are all located in Matabeleland South Province.
Speaking to journalists during a tour of the dams on Friday, Bulawayo City Council (BCC) Corporate Communications Manager Nesisa Mpofu said:
<blockquote>
From what we have seen, unfortunately, we must maintain the water shedding because our dams are low.
And, we have to be mindful that sometimes we have electricity outages, which affect the current water schedule and result in some residents spending more time without water.
Sometimes it will be an issue of water pipe bursts. If that occurs, we have to shut down the whole area that is affected until the situation is resolved.
We also need to address the issue of supply of materials. As residents, we have to play our part by paying our bills on time.
Without adequate materials, it becomes difficult to attend to some of the challenges that contribute to water shedding.
</blockquote>
The chairperson of the Future Water and Action Committee, Cllr Edwin Sibanda, said that they have forwarded a proposal to the council to buy more pumps as a short-term measure and to build another dam as a medium-term solution to the water shortages. Said Sibanda:
<blockquote>
The water situation in the city is very dire. We need to up our game and come up with immediate solutions.
We propose to construct another dam to complement the existing ones. We have seen the water levels, they are very low.
This tour has shown us the water levels in our supply dams and we have seen their capacity but it cannot save the City of Bulawayo which has grown over the years.
So as the Future Water and Action Committee, we propose that we construct a new dam. We currently have a proposal to construct the Glass Block dam in Filabusi which could supply at least 70 percent of our water requirements in the city. So basically that is our short to medium-term plan.
Secondly, we need to buy new pumps. At Umzingwane only one out of four pumps is working. We do have water but our pumping capacity is below what we require.
The short term can be getting new pumps and the medium term can be the construction of a new dam.
The pumping system needs to be improved as a matter of urgency and we also need to pray that we can get better rains so that the water level can improve.
In the previous council, it was said that the water that is left may sustain us for six months only but according to the law we need to leave a certain amount of water that will keep aqua life alive so technically speaking the water might not even reach the six months. We are in serious trouble as a city if we do not get enough rain.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, meteorologists say Zimbabwe is likely to receive less than average rainfall leading to a drought in the 2023/24 rainy season due to the El Niño climate phenomenon.
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) recently said the ongoing El Niño event is expected to last at least until April 2024.
<div class="jetpack-video-wrapper"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" loading="lazy" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kFXBnHvGuuI?feature=oembed" title="BCC Corporate Communications Manager Nesisa Mpofu says water shedding will continue." width="640"></iframe></div>

More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/11/18/president-mnangagwa-reverses-the-appointment-of-general-valerio-sibanda-to-zanu-pf-politburo/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo Braces For Prolonged Water Rationing

The Bulawayo City Council said that it will continue to maintain the 72-hour water-shedding programme, amid indications that the city is left with just six months’ supply of water.
<a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/bulawayo-dams-drop-to-45-six-months-supply-left-lake-gwayi-shangani-scheduled-for-completion-next-year/">The Sunday News</a> reported City of Bulawayo spokesperson, Nesisa Mpofu, as saying the city’s water supply dams are less than 50% full at a time when water consumption is very high. She said:
<blockquote>
As we speak our dams are 45,19 percent full which means we are way below half and it is a critical time largely because we are in the hot season where consumption is bound to increase, so we are also calling on stakeholders to continuously conserve water.
From what we have seen, unfortunately, we have to maintain the water shedding because our dam levels are low.
We also have to be mindful that occasionally we do have electricity outages and when those occur, they affect our water provision services and as such you realise that water shedding schedules are affected meaning that other areas can go for more than the current schedule without water.
We also have challenges of pipe bursts, if we have a burst pipe within an area we have to shut down the whole system for the whole area until we resolve the problem.
</blockquote>
As of Friday, 17 November, Insiza was at 60.07 percent, Inyankuni 32.93 percent, Lower Ncema at 31.72 percent, Umzingwane at 4.13 percent, Upper Ncema at 22.35 percent and Mtshabezi at 74.51 percent.
The chairperson of the Future Water Supplies and Water Action committee, Clr Edwin Ndlovu said:
<blockquote>
The situation is very bad, so we need short-term, medium-term and long-term plans to solve the problem.
We have proposed as council to have another dam that can complement these other dams and there is a proposal of Glass Block Dam in Insiza which could provide about 70 percent of our water requirements as a city.
Government has expressed that it is already committed to the Lake Gwayi-Shangani project and as such cannot divert funds but we are saying we can bring in private players such as banks who are ready to do so and help construct the Glass Block Dam.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Anxious Masuka recently admitted that the Lake Gwayi-Shangani construction was behind schedule.
Speaking last Friday at the unveiling of a 20-member Bulawayo Water Technical Committee that was established by the Government to oversee the rapid improvement of water and sanitation services in Bulawayo over a 100-day period, Masuka said:
<blockquote>
Lake Gwayi-Shangani is now slightly behind schedule but we do hope to complete this project in the new year, the contracts for the pipeline have now been awarded, the contracts for the pumps for the various stations have also been awarded.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/11/18/president-mnangagwa-reverses-the-appointment-of-general-valerio-sibanda-to-zanu-pf-politburo/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo Left With Six Months' Supply Of Water

The City of Bulawayo has cut off water supplies across the entire city indefinitely due to a Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC) power supply fault at Criterion Waterworks.
In a statement on 14 October, Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube said that the fault occurred on 12 October. He said:
<blockquote>
The public is hereby informed of the suspension of the 72-hour shedding programme and closure of water supplies to all City Areas.
This is due to a ZESA power supply fault to Criterion that occurred on Thursday the 12th of October at 20:00 hrs.
To protect the City’s supply reservoirs from collapsing as ZEIDC is still working on rectifying the fault water supplies to all City Areas are closed till power supply is restored at Criterion Waterworks and water treatment resumes.
Bulawayo City Council wishes to apologise to its valued consumers for the inconvenience likely to be caused.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo City In Total Water Supply Shutdown

The City of Bulawayo said that it has requested ZESA to give them advance notices of at least an hour before power cuts to allow the local authority to shut down the pumps properly.
Bulawayo City Council has been spending millions of dollars purchasing and installing new water pumps at its main pumping stations to ease Bulawayo’s water problems.
This was said by acting council director of engineering services, Sikhumbuzo Ncube during a stakeholders briefing meeting on Friday.
Ncube said unscheduled power cuts were damaging water pumps. <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/bcc-engages-zesa-on-power-cuts/">The Sunday News</a> quoted Ncube as saying:
<blockquote>
The kind of pumps that we have need proper shutdown of at least an hour or so. The challenge is that there is no proper power cut schedule which then affects our pumps. 
Council has requested ZESA to give advance notices of at least an hour to enable procedural shutdown of pumps.
We have also engaged the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and this led to the installation of a 500 Kva transformer with enough capacity to power one booster for the pumps.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is suffering a prolonged power shortage, especially after its main Kariba hydropower plant in December 2022 cut electricity generation due to low water levels.
The problem has been compounded by frequent breakdowns at Hwange Thermal Power Station, the shortage of coal to fire Harare, Bulawayo and Munyati power stations, and failure to pay for power imports from neighbouring countries.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Bulawayo City Council Engages ZESA On Power Cuts

The government has resolved to secure Epping Forest and Rochester Aquifer in Nyamandlovu to curb vandalism of electricity infrastructure, which is contributing to Bulawayo’s water crisis.
Police officers and security guards will soon be deployed at Epping Forest and Rochester Aquifer to protect electricity infrastructure which includes transformers and copper cables.
This followed the setting up of an inter-ministerial committee to provide both short and long-term solutions to Bulawayo’s perennial water challenges.
The committee comprises Ministers of Local Government and Public Works; Power and Energy Development; Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage; Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development; Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, the security sector and Bulawayo City Council (BCC).
Speaking in an interview with State media, Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo said security personnel will soon be deployed to safeguard the electricity infrastructure. He said:
<blockquote>
Although ZESA and everyone are suggesting that we replace the copper transformers, which are targeted by thieves, that process is likely to take longer.
What we have, therefore, agreed on is that ZINWA and the city council must work with the security cluster.
Zimbabwe Republic Police must have permanent staff at Epping Forest and Rochester Aquifer to protect the area from acts of vandalism.
Instead of getting 20 megalitres from Epping Forest, we are only getting 3ML/day, which is an issue of grave concern.
They are stealing the oil and the copper. The city council working with ZINWA must have permanent security personnel stationed at all those transformers because we are now jeopardising the lives of over 60 000 people in the city’s western suburbs.
</blockquote>
Moyo said the government was hopeful that the amendment of a law that will ensure electricity vandals get a mandatory 30-year jail term will be a deterrent and reduce the copper theft cases. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/security-personnel-deployed-at-water-installations/">Chronicle</a>

Security Personnel To Guard Electricity Infrastructure - Minister Moyo

Residents of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, face a water crisis after the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) cut off electricity at the city’s water pumps for emergency maintenance of electricity infrastructure.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 19 October 2022, the City of Bulawayo’s acting Town Clerk Sikhangele Zhou advised residents that the current 72-hour shedding programme will be suspended as water supplies will be cut off to all areas until the power utility restores electricity. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
<h2>NOTICE OF POSSIBLE WATER SUPPLIES INTERRUPTION AND TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF 72-HOUR SHEDDING DUE TO THE ZETDC SHUTDOWN AT ESIGODINI.</h2>
The public is hereby informed of water supply interruptions to all suburbs as a result of an emergency maintenance shutdown by Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) at Inyankuni in Esigodini on Wednesday, 19 October 2022 from 07:00hrs to 18:00hrs.
This will have an impact on raw water pumping volumes at both Ncema Treatment Works and Fernhill Booster Station, and consequently, affect production at Criterion Water Works. 
The shutdown will result in minimal pumping or treatment at all three of the above-mentioned stations, depleting the City’s Supply and Distribution reservoirs.
To prevent the water system from collapsing, the City of Bulawayo will temporarily suspend the current 72-hour shedding programme and cut off supply to all areas until the ZETDC shutdown is completed and power is restored at all three plants, allowing water treatment and pumping to resume.
Residents are advised that supplies will be restored once treatment and pumping have resumed and the city reservoirs have been raised to acceptable levels. 
Meanwhile, residents are advised to conserve water and keep taps turned off in the event that the work is completed sooner.
The City of Bulawayo wishes to apologise to its valued consumers for the inconvenience likely to be caused.
</blockquote>

ZESA Shutdown Triggers Water Cuts In Bulawayo

The City of Bulawayo said it will decommission Umzingwane Dam this Friday due to critically low water levels.
The development will worsen the city’s water crisis as residents are currently enduring a 72-hour weekly water shedding programme.
In a statement on Friday, Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube said Umzingwane Dam is being decommissioned as water levels have receded to just 6.6 per cent. He said:
<blockquote>
The City of Bulawayo would like to advise residents, stakeholders and members of the public that Umzingwane Dam (volume-6.6 per cent) will be decommissioned on Friday 9th September 2022 due to low water levels. This will result in five out of six dams remaining operational.
… Due to the low levels of Umzingwane dam, the city has been unable to meet its daily demand which averages between 155megalitres ML per day.
The maximum available raw water supply is currently below 120 ML/per day. As a result of the gap between demand and supply of 35ML/per day, the city has been on a water-shedding regime, which has been progressively implemented from a 48-hour to a 72-hour schedule.
The City of Bulawayo wishes to apologise to its valued customers for the inconvenience caused.
</blockquote>
Dube also revealed that Upper Ncema Dam was also critically low at 7.6 per cent while Inyakuni Dam is 45 per cent full and Lower Ncema 47 per cent full.
He said the only dams with water levels above 50 per cent are Insiza Mayfair at 69 per cent and Mtshabezi Dam at 71 per cent.
Dube blamed climate change for low rainfall in the dams’ catchment areas which has resulted in reduced inflows. | <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/bcc-decommissions-umzingwane-dam/">Chronicle</a>

Bulawayo Decommissions Umzingwane Dam Due To Low Water Levels

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) could be forced to re-introduce water rationing soon as one of its major supply dams, Umzingwane Dam faces decommissioning due to low inflows.
BCC corporate communications officer Bongiwe Ngwenya revealed that the dam was initially set for decommissioning on 31 March but this was postponed after minimal rains were experienced in its catchment recently.
The latest council report shows that the decommissioning of the dam will result in a reduction of daily water use by 35 megalitres a day. Reads the report:
<blockquote>
Umzingwane Dam was projected to be de-commissioned by 31 March 2022 if no significant rainfall occurs that would result in sizeable inflows to the dam.
The decommissioning would result in reduced available abstraction by 35 megalitres a day thus affecting total available raw water for delivery to Criterion.
Whereas Criterion would receive more than 110 megalitres a day of raw water and produce an average of 100 megalitres for the city reservoir levels to be stable and ensure continuous water supply.
In the event that the decommissioning of Umzingwane occurs, the department proposed an incremental shedding regime to be determined at the time of decommissioning vis-à-vis the would be remaining available abstraction from other dams.
</blockquote>
According to the latest dam statistics, as supplied by BCC, in total the dams are 58.12 per cent full.
Insiza Mayfair, whose carrying capacity is 173.4 million cubic metres, has the most water 78.1 per cent full.
Mtshabezi, with a carrying capacity of 51.9 million cubic metres is 75.67 per cent full.
Lower Ncema, with a carrying capacity of 18.2 million cubic metres is 75.39 per cent full.
Inyankuni with a carrying capacity of 80.7 million cubic metres is 51.9 per cent full.
Upper Ncema which has a carrying capacity of 45.5 million cubic metres is 14.58 per cent full.
Umzingwane which has a carrying 44.6 million cubic metres is 8.3 per cent full.
After Umzingwane, Upper Ncema is expected to be the next dam to be decommissioned with its depletion date set for 18 August 2022.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/bulawayo-considers-water-shedding-re-introduction/">The Sunday News</a></h4>

Bulawayo Considers Reintroducing Water Rationing

The Turkish Embassy, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube and a Bulawayo Zanu-PF Businessman Elifasi Mashaba donated infrastructure to Bulawayo City Council, to augment the city fathers efforts to solve the city’s life saving liquid crisis, Sunday News reports.
According to the publication:
<blockquote>Elifasi Mashaba brought on board five companies inclusive of his Family Trust together they pledged to construct five water kiosks in the city.
Prof Ncube pledged to construct a water kiosk valued at US$4 500 at a site selected by the local authority after touring a similar site that is being constructed by the Mashaba Family Trust in Emganwini.</blockquote>
Speaking about his donation the treasury boss, Professor Mthuli Ncube said;
<blockquote>I was inspired by the efforts being made by local individuals in assisting the local authority to address this water problem hence I will also be constructing a similar water kiosk at a site that will be selected by BCC officials.
Further I am told by Cde Mashaba that he has single handedly got four more companies that will be doing the same, which is honestly commendable. As Government we will, however, continue working on the implementation of long terms solutions to this problem, so that it becomes an issue of the past.</blockquote>
Bulawayo is battling a water shortage crisis that is seeing the city implementing a water rationing schedule that leaves households without water for 144 hours.
More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/huge-water-boost-for-bulawayo/">Sunday News </a>

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