Bulawayo Mayor calls for water conservation amidst severe shortage

Blessed Moyo and Faith Ndlovu

Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart urged the public to use water sparingly as the city continues to endure one of its worst water crisis in recent years.

The local authority has had to introduce a 120-hour water-shedding schedule after its supply dams received below-average inflows due to the El Nino-induced drought.

Addressing delegates at an Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) Strategic planning workshop Clr Coltart urged citizens to use water sparingly to avert the crisis being faced by the city.

“Our dams are sitting at 32 percent and many of our catchment areas have been ravaged by the gold panning,” said the Mayor.

UCAZ is a voluntary association of 32 urban local authorities, enjoying a 100% membership of all urban councils in Zimbabwe.

Clr Coltart exhorted Mayors, councillors from around Zimbabwe who had visited the City of Kings for the UCAZ event that lasted for three days to safely use waters in the hotels and lodges they were to be occupied in during the course of the event.

“The City is facing an absolute catastrophe and if we have another drought like last year’s drought we will literally run out of raw water in the City” said the Mayor

The Mayor applauded the Bulawayo City Council for keeping the streets of the CBD and the areas around clean and for the City of Bulawayo managing to maintain green lawns.

The Mayor said the Bulawayo council is hoping to house digitalisation, accessibility of goods and services and efficiency of resources in the City of Bulawayo.