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The Bulawayo City Council on yesterday introduced a tight 120-hour water rationing regime owing to low levels of water in the city’s supply dams.
Before the introduction of the new water shedding regime, the city was on a 72-hour water-rationing programme.
The city relies on six supply dams, Insiza, Inyankuni, Lower Ncema, Upper Ncema, Umzingwane and Mtshabezi which are all located in Matabeleland South province.
City mayor, David Coltart said the council unanimously resolved to start a 120-hour water rationing programme to replenish the Criterion Dam and reservoir so that they will be able to supply water for the entire city during the festive season.
“The engineering department has instructed us to increase water shedding period to 120 hours. We understand this is going to cause immerse hardships to many residents particularly in high density suburbs,” he said.
“But after an extensive debate, this council unanimously resolved that we have no option but pass a resolution aligning to engineering department to start 120-hour shedding.
“This is designed to ensure we replenish particularly Criterion dam and reservoir so that at the start of festive season we will be able to supply water for the entire city,” he said.
Coltart said after the festive season, the council will review the water shedding regime to probably 96 hours.
“However, because of the climate and wider problems I spoke at the beginning, it is anticipated that beyond the festive season we are also going to have an extended water shedding (regime) that will probably come down to 96 hours but we will review in due course,” he said.
“The first resolution was done unanimously and we have representation from both political parties (Zanu PF and CCC) and they understood the gravity and was resolved unanimously,” he said.
Coltart said the water problem in the city needs a quick solution to enable business and industry to operate efficiently and productively.
To avert water shortages in the region, government is spearheading the construction of the 650 million cubic meter Lake Gwayi Shangani in Hwange district, Matebeleland North to supply Bulawayo. — New Ziana
Online Reporter