Heavy rains leave Bulawayo Ward 5 in infrastructure crisis

Gibson Mhaka
BULAWAYO’s Ward 5 faces a critical infrastructure crisis, with nearly 80 percent of its roads in disrepair after heavy rains across the country, according to a report by Ward Councillor Octavius Dumisani Nkomo.
The report, detailing the ward’s activities and challenges, highlights the strain on municipal resources and the urgent need for intervention.
“The month of February was generally fruitful one with most activities being of a planning nature .Three meetings were held and a multiplicity of service delivery issues were attended to or emerged during the month under review.
“The heavy rains have adversely affected our roads with almost 80 percent of ward 5 roads needing urgent attention,” Cllr Nkomo stated in his report.
He acknowledged that the road damage is a citywide and potentially nationwide issue, exacerbating the already limited resources available for repairs.
The report reveals that while the city council plans to deploy decomposed granite to address the most severely affected roads, the demand across Bulawayo will limit the scope of these efforts.
Residents are now pinning their hopes on planned rehabilitation efforts by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) and the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara), particularly for Matopos Road.
The long-awaited Public-Private Partnership for the extension of Matopos Road up to the Old Gwanda Road passage is also a key focus.
Beyond road infrastructure, Ward 5 residents are experiencing significant water shortages.
“Areas such as Hillside South and West, parts of Burnside and Hillcrest experienced lengthy water cuts.
“The repair work affecting Hillcrest is due to start in the next week whilst water challenges in Hillside West and South are under investigation as this is not part of normal water shedding”.
The heavy rainfall has also exposed serious drainage issues. Residents are being urged to clear storm drains and avoid obstructing waterways with improper construction, such as dura walls without outlets.
The city council has announced drainage clearing projects scheduled for March and April.
The report also highlighted concerns regarding low attendance at public meetings, despite their importance for community decision-making.
Councillor Nkomo emphasised the necessity of physical meetings for effective engagement.
“A major concern is that most of our public meetings are not well attended .These meetings are very important because key decisions that affect Residents are made here .Whilst social media platforms and virtual options are options, physical meetings remain key because they facilitate face to face engagement,” said Cllr Nkomo.
Despite the challenges, Ward 5 is moving forward with several initiatives. Partnerships have been established with a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) for health outreach, and an indigenous tree planting project is planned for local schools.
The Ward Committee is also exploring a solar panel project, with ongoing due diligence being conducted.