Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has stepped in to clarify the cause of the city’s water shortages. According to Coltart, “It is important to clarify that water has not been unavailable because of the proposal to establish a water utility… The utility has not yet been set up, and the water shortages have nothing to do with it.”

The Mayor’s Take
Coltart emphasizes that the crisis stems from long-standing infrastructure challenges. He states, “The crisis itself shows why we need such a utility.” Residents, however, are growing impatient. As Melusi Mpofu from Emakhandeni puts it, “Instead of having ongoing conversations about a new water utility, the BCC should focus on fixing the current crisis. Every day is a struggle to find water, we deserve better.”

Ezra Chikwava from Parklands echoes similar sentiments, “How long are we going to keep attending meetings discussing the same issue while residents still don’t have water? There are immediate actions the council could take. Residents are suffering.” Themebelihle Sibanda from Cowdray Park adds, “We have ideas and suggestions that could make a difference. Access to clean water is a basic human right, and our voices must be part of the conversation.”

The City of Bulawayo has made progress in addressing the crisis. According to the city council, “Treatment capacity at Criterion Water Works has risen from 45 to between 90 and 100 megalitres per day, returning to 100% operational capacity.” The council is also working on establishing a reliable fallback pumping system and maintenance work on one of the city’s transformers.

Bulawayo’s water crisis is complex, but listening to residents and implementing practical solutions might be a good starting point. As the city council works towards resolving the issue, residents remain hopeful for a stable and reliable water supply.

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