Bulawayo water very safe to drink- BCC dismisses cyanide poisoning claims

THE Bulawayo City Council has dismissed claims circulating on social media that tap water is contaminated with cyanide and other chemicals, emphasising its commitment to providing safe water to the public.

In a statement on X, Bulawayo Town Clerk Mr Christopher Dube assured the public of the safety of the water supply from the dams.

He said: “The City of Bulawayo wishes to assure members of the public of the safety and quality of the City’s water supply from the dams. The safety and quality of Bulawayo’s water is of the utmost priority for the Municipality. We have rigorous water testing and monitoring protocols to ensure the water meets all regulatory standards for potability and safety.”

Mr Dube said laboratory tests have confirmed the city’s water is safe.

“Laboratory tests conducted on water samples from the city’s dams have confirmed that there are no detectable levels of cyanide or any other harmful contaminants. The water continues to be safe for all domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses,” he said.

The town clerk said circulating messages are falsehoods.

“The messages circulating on social media are misinformation which misconstrued the news article and the concerns raised by Councillors and members of the Future Water Supplies and Water Action Committee. A visit was made to the proposed Heap Leach Pad at the Umzingwane District near the Upper Ncema Dam to check on the potential environmental impact of the Heap Leaching being constructed in the area,” said Mr Dube.

He affirmed that the City Council is closely monitoring the water situation and will take all necessary actions to safeguard the water supply.

He further advised the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to misinformation circulating on social media platforms.

“We urge all residents to rely only on official communications from the City of Bulawayo regarding the status of the water supply. We are committed to full transparency and will not hesitate to inform the public of any legitimate water quality issues that may arise. We want to assure the public that there is no evidence of any such contamination,” he said.