Relief for Bulawayo water woes

Bulawayo bureau
Environment, Water and Climate Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, has ordered the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to pump water from Mtshabezi Dam 24 hours a day, as the Zanu-PF Government steps up efforts to address the prevailing water crisis in Bulawayo.In an interview on Friday, during a tour of the city’s major supply dams, Cde Kasukuwere said he had already instructed Zinwa to start pumping water continuously from the Mtshabezi Dam so that Bulawayo’s water supply would be constant.

“We cannot afford a situation where Bulawayo residents are not getting water every day. This is unacceptable and dangerous in terms of the health of people. As Government we have made it a requirement and my ministry through Zinwa is working on ensuring that there is sufficient water supply for the residents of the City of Bulawayo going into January and beyond.

“This will also require the rehabilitation of Nyamandlovu Aquifer and I have instructed Zinwa to pump water for 24 hours from Mtshabezi Dam meaning we can now be able to supply Bulawayo residents with water throughout the week. Basically we can say we now have enough water for residents to get the resource every day,” said Cde Kasukuwere.

He said his ministry was supporting Bulawayo City Council in stepping up efforts to address the city’s water problems.
“We now have sufficient volumes of water to kick-start the 24-hour water supply arrangement since we have started pumping water for 24 hours from Mtshabezi Dam four days ago unlike when we only pumped for eight hours which contributed to the four day availability of water,” said Cde Kasukuwere.

Following 24-hour pumping, the Mtshabezi Dam pipeline has boosted water supplies to Bulawayo ’s feeder dams from 5 000 cubic metres to 15 000 a day.

“We must now be able to guarantee enough water supplies for Bulawayo . Mtshabezi Dam is 96 percent full and 14 km long and it will take years and years for it to dry. We also encourage our people to continue conserving the little water resources that we have as Government,” said Cde Kasukuwere.

He said the Government was making efforts in completing the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, which involved the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam, the pipeline from the dam to Bulawayo and another pipeline from the dam to Zambezi River.