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Residents' voices gathered from BPRA weekend activities
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
October 11, 2012

Bulawayo residents have expressed growing discontentment over the Mtshabezi Dam construction stating that the city fathers must shift their energies to the Nyamandlovu aquifer as the short-term alternative water source as other options have so far been a disappointment to residents. They said the Mtshabezi dam construction which had been seen as the short-term mitigation measure to the city's water woes had become a long term response considering the current delicate water needs in the city. It has for years been hoped that the Mtshabezi dam completion would meet the water needs of Bulawayo while the uMzingwane and Zambezi water projects, which are medium and long term measures respectively, are being worked on. Residents also rejected suggestions to use Khami dam water, as they said it is contaminated with raw sewage.

These concerns were raised at two consultative meetings held over the weekend by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) in Gwabalanda (ward 16) and Lobengula (ward 14). The recurrent concern raised was the continuing critical water situation in the city which is now threatening the health of most residents' especially those living in high density suburbs.

Residents in ward 16 raised qualms with the City Council's failure to adhere to the set water shedding schedule. They said this was forcing them to walk long distances in search of water leading to a number of challenges faced especially by women. In ward 14, residents raised the concern that they faced the threat of contracting water borne diseases as hundreds of households are depending on one borehole to service the whole community. While council had committed to providing more water through the use of a bowsers, they complained that this was yet to be done.

Residents of both wards also complained of the absence of their constituency MPs and councillors at the consultative meetings stating that there were some issues that could only be addressed by these officials. They requested that an invitation also be extended to the BCC Engineering department to explain the water situation in the dams in a more practical manner.

Residents suggested that the decommissioned dams be serviced as they were currently not being used. Dam servicing is needed so as to increase their water capacity. They encouraged the city fathers to resume water rationing strategies soon after the rainy seasons so as to save water for dry seasons and mitigate against crisis situations like the current one. The residents also recommended that the City Council should only increase the number of suburbs in line with the water sources available. They queried the rational of having 10 new townships being built since independence with no new dams having been constructed to service this growing population in the city.

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