Sithembinkosi L Jiyane
BULAWAYO – A burst water pipe near Lobengula High School has become both a lifeline and a curse for residents of surrounding suburbs, highlighting Bulawayo’s worsening water crisis while causing significant infrastructure damage.
The ruptured pipe currently serves as the primary water source for residents of Lobengula Extension, Lobengula West, Lobengula Old, and Old Magwegwe, with desperate families using the water for drinking, cooking and washing despite potential health risks.
“We rely on this water for everything,” said MaNcube, a resident who spoke to Zim GBC News.
“Since there’s no water from our taps and our stored water ran out weeks ago, we have no choice but to use this pipe for all our needs.”
The crisis has forced residents to make impossible choices, with many admitting they use the untreated water despite knowing the risks of waterborne diseases. High-lying areas have gone months without municipal water supplies, pushing some to collect water from unhygienic swampy areas.
While the burst pipe provides temporary relief, it has wreaked havoc on local infrastructure:
- The adjacent road has become impassable due to massive erosion
- Deep trenches now pose safety hazards, especially for children
- School buses are forced to take lengthy detours
- Underground infrastructure continues deteriorating
“The road is completely destroyed,” complained Mr. Dube, a local resident.
“Even the Lobengula High School bus can’t pass through anymore, making children late for classes.”
City Council promises to address the pipe rupture – first reported years ago – remain unfulfilled.
The prolonged neglect has transformed what should have been a simple repair into a major infrastructure crisis.
Public health experts warn the situation represents a ticking time bomb for disease outbreaks.
“When people are forced to drink from broken pipes, we’re inviting cholera and other waterborne diseases,” said a local clinic nurse who requested anonymity.
The crisis underscores Bulawayo’s broader water infrastructure collapse, where:
- 60% of water pipes are over 50 years old
- Non-revenue water losses exceed 40%
- Reservoir levels remain critically low
As residents continue lining up at the burst pipe with buckets, the City Council maintains its silence on when permanent solutions might come.
For now, Bulawayo’s water woes continue flowing unabated.
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