Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
BULAWAYO’S long-running water challenges have made the city a fitting venue for the inaugural Zimbabwe Water Indaba and WASH Joint Sector Review, Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube has said.
Speaking in her welcome remarks at the Indaba, delivered on her behalf by Mr Julius Gwatiwa, Minister Ncube said the province had for decades grappled with recurring water shortages, ageing infrastructure and the challenge of balancing the needs of a growing population and industrial sector against constrained water resources.
She expressed gratitude to the National Action Committee and the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) for choosing Bulawayo to host the landmark gathering, which brings the WASH Joint Sector Review and Water Indaba onto the same platform for the first time.
“Bulawayo is a fitting home for this gathering. For decades, this city has confronted recurring water shortages, ageing supply infrastructure and the constant work of balancing a growing population and industry against constrained resources,” said Minister Ncube.
“It is a history that has taught this province resilience, and it has taught us perhaps more than most why gatherings such as this matter.”
She said the province would work with the Bulawayo City Council and other stakeholders to translate the recommendations of the Indaba into practical interventions.
These include accelerating efforts to augment the city’s water supply, strengthening sewerage and wastewater systems, and improving water conservation and demand management.
“This province, working with Bulawayo City Council and our local stakeholders, stands ready to translate the recommendations of this review into action on our own streets, on our own systems, and for our own people,” she said.
Minister Ncube said Bulawayo’s experience in developing responses to water shortages, including borehole augmentation and water-shifting programmes, would contribute to the national discussions.
She said the theme of the Indaba, “Accelerating Water Security and WASH Delivery, Innovation, Partnership, Resilience for Zimbabwe’s Sustainable Development,” resonated with Bulawayo because of the city’s history of having to innovate out of necessity to maintain water supplies.
“We do not come to this Indaba merely as hosts. We come as a province with lived experience to contribute to this national conversation,” she said.
Minister Ncube said the discussions were also aligned with the Government’s development priorities under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), particularly efforts to improve access to clean and potable water, bulk water supplies for industry and irrigation, and sanitation facilities in urban and rural areas.
She said the water sector was central to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation and SDG 13 on climate action.
Minister Ncube expressed confidence that the technical sessions, round-table discussions and Joint Sector Review would produce practical recommendations that could benefit communities across the country.
“I am confident that the technical sessions, roundtables and reviews that will unfold here over the next days will produce recommendations of real value, not only to Bulawayo, but to every province, city and rural district across Zimbabwe grappling with similar water security and WASH challenges,” she said.
