Lupane residents go for days without water due to power fault

Mkhululi Ncube,Zimpapers Reporter

Residents of Lupane, the Matabeleland North provincial capital, have gone for days without water following a power fault that disrupted pumping at the Bubi-Lupane Dam.

Since Sunday, the community has endured dry taps in the scorching heat, as the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), which supplies the area, has no backup power system to maintain pumping operations during electricity outages.

Lupane Residents and Ratepayers Development Trust organising secretary, Ms Florence Magagula, said a lasting solution was needed to prevent recurring water shortages.

“We have been without water since Sunday following an electrical fault. Every time there are prolonged power cuts, we suffer because ZINWA relies on electricity to pump water from the Bubi-Lupane Dam. The most affected areas are Mtshibini, Mqabuko suburbs, the business centre, and Lupane State University,” she said.

Ms Magagula said the situation was unacceptable for a provincial capital and affected businesses severely.

“Lupane is a busy business centre with several guest houses and eateries that need a constant water supply. Without water, it’s a mess. ZINWA must seriously consider installing solar power at the pumping plant,” she said.

She added that a borehole in Lobengula suburb, Ward 3, was failing to cope with the increased demand, leading to fights among residents desperate for water.

A representative of informal traders at Lupane Centre, Ms Sibusisiwe Moyo, said traders and residents often resort to using nearby bushes to relieve themselves, posing serious health risks.

“We are forced to go to the bush when nature calls, which is not healthy. It also exposes women to the risk of rape and losing valuables, as criminals take advantage of such situations,” she said.

Ms Moyo warned that the situation could worsen with the onset of the rainy season, which often brings more electrical faults.

“If installing a solar system is expensive, then a generator should be considered as another option. Lupane is the provincial capital and needs an uninterrupted water supply, especially when there’s enough water in the dam,” she said.

A guest lodge owner, Mr Emmanuel Ndlovu, said the water shortages were affecting the hospitality sector.

“When guests arrive in this heat, they want to freshen up, but without running water, they go elsewhere. We also need water for cooking and hygiene to avoid exposing guests to diseases,” he said.

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