By Keith Jeketera | Gender and Community Reporter<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A severe drought has plunged Bulawayo into a critical water crisis, with the city\u2019s residents now receiving piped water for less than six days a week as authorities struggle to maintain a collapsing supply infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The situation has become so dire that three of the city\u2019s six major reservoirs have been shut down, forcing citizens to rely on boreholes, rivers, and stored water in JoJo tanks, raising alarms over hygiene and the potential outbreak of water-borne diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s become a daily struggle fetching water; our lives are really tough now,\u201d said Thandiwe Ncube, a resident of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her sentiment is echoed across neighbourhoods, where the burden of the water shortage falls heaviest on the poor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In areas like Makokoba, the crisis is acute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor us in Makokoba, it\u2019s a real challenge; sometimes we go days without proper water,\u201d explained community member Memory Dube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lack of reliable water access has led to inadequate sanitation, with local health officials warning of increased risks of cholera and typhoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the municipal supply failing, many have turned to alternative sources, but safety concerns persist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have no choice but to use borehole water, but we\u2019re worried about safety,\u201d remarked Sipho Moyo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This anxiety is compounded by reports of residents drilling illegal boreholes under cover of darkness to avoid council fees, a practice that complicates city monitoring and quality control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Council Response and JoJo Tank Scrutiny<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is facing mounting pressure to address the crisis. Councilor Ntando Moyo revealed that the council is exploring innovative, if controversial, measures to manage water usage, including using drones to assess the prevalence of private JoJo tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking into how we can fairly bill residents with JoJo tanks for their water usage patterns,\u201d Councilor Moyo explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Council has also cautioned residents against connecting private water sources like boreholes or tanks to the city system, warning it could complicate tracing the source of potential contamination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the BCC has installed public boreholes to alleviate the suffering, officials admit that drilling and maintenance costs are prohibitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese boreholes help, but they\u2019re not enough for everyone,\u201d noted local resident Tendai Chikomo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Council also continues to grapple with frequent water bursts and leaks, straining its limited resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents Demand Action<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frustration is boiling over among residents who feel abandoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis water crisis is killing us. We need solutions, not just talk,\u201d said a concerned citizen, Regina Sibanda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many voices, particularly those of caregivers, highlight the human cost of the emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a mother, I\u2019m worried sick about clean water for my kids. What if they get sick from bad water?\u201d one resident questioned. Another added,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Council needs to do more; we can\u2019t keep living like this with water shortages all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are growing calls for urgent national government intervention to provide funding and implement long-term solutions to secure the City\u2019s water supply, as the current measures are widely seen as a stopgap for a deepening humanitarian concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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