BCC aquifer bid squashed

However, in an interview on Friday, Dr Sipepa Nkomo said council’s intentions were a slur to Zinwa and his Ministry.

“I told Engineer (Ian) Mthunzi (council’s deputy director of engineering services) yesterday, that it is an insult to the parastatal and my Ministry. What they want to do is impossible. They want to encroach on the responsibility of another parastatal. It is wrong in principle and cannot be entertained,” said Dr Sipepa Nkomo.

He said the law clearly stated that the responsibility of raw water supply was Zinwa’s responsibility.

“Anyway, council cannot claim that Zinwa is letting vandals destroy the boreholes, when it has its security guards at the aquifer as well. Where would these guards be when uncouth elements destroy the boreholes?” asked Dr Sipepa Nkomo.

Contacted for comment, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Thaba Moyo said he saw nothing wrong with council’s proposal.

“As Bulawayo, we are the ones who feel the pinch of water shortages. We have invested heavily in the aquifer and our money has never been rejected when boreholes are being rehabilitated. Why would we, at this point, be denied a chance to run some of the boreholes to ensure a steady supply of water to Bulawayo?” asked Clr Moyo.

He said council could also be allowed to lease some of the boreholes.

“We are not talking about a total takeover per se, but we are suggesting a partnership that will allow us to take care of the boreholes we will run so that we do not spend money repairing them every year,” said the Mayor.

Bulawayo is facing one of its worst water shortages in recent years.

The city is on a four day weekly water shedding schedule as council battles to conserve supplies until significant inflows are registered in the supply dams.

The aquifer remains one of council’s major sources of water with abstraction hovering between 3 000 and 5 000 cubic metres of water daily.

It is anticipated that if 26 boreholes are rehabilitated, and additional ones drilled at Epping Forest, output could increase to about 30 000 cubic metres.

The added abstraction has the potential to reduce water shedding by two days.

Although funds for the project have reportedly been secured, work is yet to start.