Vusumuzi Dube
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
ONE of Bulawayo’s five water supply dams, Upper Ncema is set to be commissioned on Thursday (tomorrow).
This is after the dam at 2.03 percent full, a development that is set to exacerbate the city’s water supply challenges.
Upper Ncema becomes the second dam to be decommissioned after Umzingwane dam was also decommissioned in November last year as it also got to alarming levels of 2 percent.
In a statement, acting town clerk, Mr Tennyson Mpunzi advised members of the public of a critical water shortage, due to the alarmingly low water levels in the Upper Ncema Dam.
“To this end, the City has been forced to decommission this vital water source. This marks the second dam to be decommissioned since November 2023, when UMzingwane Dam was decommissioned highlighting the severity of the water crisis facing our City.
“The Upper Ncema dam, a crucial reservoir located on the same river as the Lower Ncema dam, was intended to replenish the latter during the dry season. However, due to the ongoing drought, the dam gates had to be opened prematurely on August 28, 2024,” said Mr Mpunzi.
Consequently, he said the Upper Ncema dam has reached its non-operational level (dead-water level) and will be decommissioned effective October 3 2024.
“The decommissioning of the Upper Ncema dam will exacerbate the City’s water supply challenges. It is imperative that all residents take immediate action to conserve water,” said Mr Mpunzi.
As of Wednesday, Insiza sits at 40.33 percent, Inyankuni 18.07 percent, Lower Ncema 21.46 percent and Mtshabezi at 50.79 percent.
Umzingwane and Upper Ncema dams are decommissioned at 2.14 percent and 2.03 percent respectively.
@nyeve14
Online Reporter