Online Reporter
Thabani Dube, [email protected]
BULAWAYO residents continue to endure bursting sewer pipes and raw sewage flowing into homes and streets, raising fears of disease outbreaks, as the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) says it requires at least US$1 billion to permanently rehabilitate the city’s ageing water and sewer infrastructure.
The situation is particularly severe in older suburbs such as Sauerstown, Kumalo, Mabutweni, Mzilikazi, Magwegwe and Luveve, where decades old pipes are repeatedly collapsing under pressure.
BCC’s acting director of water and sanitation, Engineer Kwanele Sibanda, said the crisis stems from a collapsed and obsolete system that can no longer cope with the city’s needs.
“The City of Bulawayo’s water and wastewater master plan indicates that we require about US$1 billion to completely overhaul the infrastructure. These older areas are characterised by frequent water bursts and leaks, while the sewer infrastructure is more susceptible to collapses, leading to blockages and overflows,” she said.
Engineer Sibanda said the affected suburbs have been earmarked for phased water and sewer mains renewal, although progress remains dependent on funding availability.
In Emganwini suburb, residents say they have lived with flowing sewage and an unbearable stench for more than four years.
“These areas are characterised by frequent water bursts and leaks while under sewer, the infrastructure is more susceptible to collapses leading to blockages and consequent overflows. Such areas are earmarked for phased water and sewer mains renewals that are influenced by the availability of funding.”
Residents in Emganwini say the persistent sewage problem has driven many property owners away.
“About half of the nearly 200 landlords in the affected areas, especially near Demo House and along St Martin Road, have deserted their homes. Some have rented them out cheaply or left relatives to stay there because they could not cope with the strong stench and health risks,” said resident Mr Nqobani Mlotshwa.
Mr Mlotshwa said the problem began in 2022, and residents formally petitioned Bulawayo Mayor Councillor David Coltart in 2024 but have yet to see meaningful action.
“We wrote a petition and handed it to the mayor’s secretary, hoping something would change, but up to now nothing has happened,” he said.
Engineer Sibanda explained that the Emganwini sewer hotspot involves a section of piping more than 80 metres long, buried at depths of between three and nearly five metres.
“This section has, over the years, experienced sagging due to overburden. The hotspot has been analysed and earmarked for sectional pipe replacement, funds permitting,” she said.
The crisis comes as Government moves to tighten accountability among rural and urban councils.
Through Statutory Instrument 170 of 2025, President Mnangagwa recently launched the Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS), introducing mandatory benchmarks for councils in areas such as water, sanitation, waste management, roads, governance, health, the environment and housing.
Under the MSDS, councils are expected to meet clear targets, including supplying 50 to 100 litres of water per person per day and resolving service delivery complaints within prescribed timeframes. Their performance will be monitored through a digital dashboard designed to enforce accountability.
Urban authorities are expected to cover 90 percent of their areas with reliable water supply by the end of this year and reach full coverage by 2030. Rural local authorities must reach 70 percent coverage this year and 100 percent by 2030.
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works’ director for local authorities, Mr Mike Mazai, urged residents to report non-performing councils to the ministry for intervention.
“Residents must know that they have a right to report local authorities to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works through the offices of the Permanent Secretary or the Minister.
Even one resident can write a letter, after which the Permanent Secretary can descend on the local authority to investigate or map the way forward. A commission of inquiry may even be recommended,” said Mr Mazai.
Mr Mazai added that poor communication between councils and residents often worsens service delivery problems.
“Sometimes it is inefficiency, corruption or poor management that makes it difficult for councils to engage or explain processes to residents, so that people understand the prevailing circumstances,” he said.
