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Weekend meetings review
Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA)
October 29, 2012

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) yesterday (Sunday 28 October 2012) held two meetings to discuss the water crisis in Bulawayo where some residents revealed that they were only receiving water for periods of less than an hour each week. The meetings were held in Mpopoma (ward 9) and Nkulumane (ward 23) where residents got an opportunity to dialogue with their respective councillors on the current water situation in the city. Speaking at the meeting held in ward 9, residents of Matshobane complained that they seldom have water as they are located on high ground, and often go for as long as one week without water, with the water only coming for about forty five minutes once a week. They said what made matters worse was that the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) bowser that brings water to the area parks in Mpopoma where water supply is stable, further worsening the plight of Matshobane residents as they have to compete for water with Mpopoma residents. In Nkulumane, residents similarly said they were going for long periods without water and called upon BCC to avail water in bowsers to the area to ensure that residents at least have enough water to meet basic needs.

BCC has previously acknowledged that areas on higher ground are being affected more by water shedding due to gravity. Thus while water may be turned on as stipulated in the city council water shedding timetable, some areas do not receive even a drop of water by the time water is closed again for the next round of water shedding. While BPRA is aware that Bulawayo is facing a grave water situation that necessitates extended water shedding, the association is appalled that the local authority is not putting any measures in place to ensure that all residential areas get at least enough to meet basic requirements. As it stands, the rights of residents to access clean drinking water is being denied in many parts of the city. BPRA once again calls upon BCC to avail water bowsers in areas on high ground that are going for water shedding for longer periods than stipulated in the current water shedding timetable. So far, BPRA is aware that these areas are found in suburbs such as Njube, Matshobane, Old Magwegwe, Nkulumane 12, Entumbane, Emganwini and Pumula South.

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