BCC sought Government intervention to declare the city ‘a critical water shortage area’

Gibson Mhaka

THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has sought government intervention to declare the city “a critical water shortage area”.

So dire is the city’s water situation as the supply dams are reportedly sitting on a meagre 53 percent with plans to increase shedding hours to 72 from the current 48.

The request from the local authority to the government to declare the city’s water crisis a disaster was raised by Ward 9 Councillor Donaldson Mabuto during a recent council meeting.

“Councillor D. Mabuto highlighted that the city was in a serious water crisis. This situation needed the intervention of the Central Government to declare Bulawayo a critical water shortage area. A report had previously been submitted to the Central Government.

“A number of promises had been made but none of the promises had been fulfilled. The current dam statistics was at 53%. This was not a comfortable situation as summer was fast approaching and the water demand was very high.

The current 48-hour water shedding should continue in order to preserve water. If the water situation continued, the city would be forced to increase shedding hours to 72. It was prudent to give residents enough information. He called for the resuscitation of the Water Crisis Committee,” the minutes read in part.

In response Alderman Monica Lubimbi concurred saying there was a need to give residents enough information in relation to water shedding as well as sticking to the stipulated water shedding hours.

Ward 5 Cllr Felix Mhaka also urged the local authority to engage Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and drill more boreholes in residential areas.

 

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