Government waives procurement processes to expedite solutions for Bulawayo’s water crisis

THE Government has taken immediate action to address Bulawayo’s water crisis by waiving the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) processes for procuring essential equipment and inputs. This decision is part of the government’s measures to expedite the alleviation of the water shortage in the region, particularly with plans to draw water from Inyankuni Dam in Matabeleland South Province.

Among the measures being implemented are water shedding in the city’s industrial areas during off-peak periods such as nights and weekends, beefing up security at the Nyamandlovu aquifer to combat vandalism and theft, and speeding up the process of drawing water from Inyankuni through the procurement of necessary equipment.

During an assessment and appreciation tour of Bulawayo’s supply dams yesterday, Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister, Dr Anxious Masuka, stated that the water crisis in Bulawayo is not due to a shortage of water but rather the harnessing of water from Mtshabezi and Insiza. Dr Masuka emphasised the importance of cutting through bureaucratic processes to ensure that essential resources are made available promptly to address the pressing needs of the community.

“We recognise the gravity of the water crisis in Bulawayo and the hardships faced by its residents. By waiving Praz processes, we aim to streamline the procurement of equipment and inputs necessary for the expedited implementation of solutions to alleviate the water shortage,” said Dr Masuka.

He added that the decision to bypass the Praz processes reflects the government’s commitment to prioritise the well-being and livelihoods of the people in Bulawayo.

By removing administrative hurdles in the procurement of vital resources, the Government aims to facilitate a more efficient response to the water crisis, ultimately benefiting the residents of the affected region.

“They afforded us an opportunity to see two major supply systems for Bulawayo. The first one was the Mtshabezi-Mzingwane system where we were looking at the conveyancing as the constraint to delivering the 17 mega litres that Mtshabezi can provide. In Insiza, the Inyankuni Dam is 38-39 percent full and at full capacity, it holds 176 million cubic meters. The current water in this dam is enough to supply the city of Bulawayo for the next 10 months.

“So the problem we have with Bulawayo is not the shortage of water but the conveyancing system that we need to attend to,” said Dr Masuka.

Additionally, Dr Masuka said the Government plans to extract water from Inyankuni Dam as a key strategy in addressing the water scarcity in Bulawayo. He noted that this initiative underscores the government’s proactive approach towards seeking sustainable solutions to the pressing challenges faced by the city.

“Government is taking concrete steps towards ensuring a more secure water supply for the residents of Bulawayo. By expediting these crucial processes, the government aims to provide relief to the community and mitigate the impact of the water crisis in the region,” said Dr Masuka.

He mentioned that the immediate intervention is to bring the conveyancing to operate at a design capacity of 55 mega litres a day.

“We want to attend to Nyamandlovu aquifer to stop the vandalism that is taking place. And this takes all of us, a whole-of-society approach, so that we can get the desired 20 to 25 mega litres from the aquifer that would be able to add to the City of Bulawayo’s current 90 to 100 mega litres a day so that we are able to provide the city with 110 to 120 mega litres out of their peak demand requirement of 165 mega litres a day,” said Dr Masuka.

He also addressed the need to reduce water shedding in the domestic system.

“We also want the city of Bulawayo to reconsider their approach to water shedding where they solely watershed residents but not the CBD and industrial areas. They could shed industry at night in order to provide residents with water. And we want this discussion to continue. Government is determined to support the city of Bulawayo and we have seen the installations that have been done on account of money that has been provided by the government and we will be able to motivate for additional resources to be provided to expedite the completion of the prioritised works,” said Dr Masuka.

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart expressed gratitude for the Government’s proactive approach in addressing the water crisis in Bulawayo. He emphasised the importance of fast-tracking the measures to provide water as the situation is dire.

“We are grateful for the waiver and we anticipate that we can save the city in a short time,” he said.