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NewsDay

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No water crisis in Byo — minister

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Water Resources Management and Development minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo has dismissed fears of a water crisis in Bulawayo, arguing the city’s supply dams have enough reserves. This follows reports that Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is set to introduce a tight water-rationing regime citing critical water levels. “We will not have a water crisis in Matabeleland,” […]

Water Resources Management and Development minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo has dismissed fears of a water crisis in Bulawayo, arguing the city’s supply dams have enough reserves.

This follows reports that Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is set to introduce a tight water-rationing regime citing critical water levels.

“We will not have a water crisis in Matabeleland,” Nkomo said. “The water in our dams may not have filled up much because of the little rain received in the region, but the water supply in the dams is still adequate for our residents.”

Last week, BCC’s director of engineering services, Simela Dube, said the city’s five supply dams were collectively holding 54,21% of their capacity at the end of last month.

The latest council report shows the city dams — Insiza, Inyankuni, Lower Ncema, Umzingwane and Upper Ncema — have received a mere 2% inflow of water since the beginning of the rainy season in November.

The dams are reported to have a total of 196 592 234 cubic metres of water, out of a possible 362 631 70.

The city is reportedly pinning its hopes on the completion of the Mtshabezi-Umzingwane pipeline by the middle of the year to avert a water crisis.

“Despite this (assurance of adequate water supplies) I urge the people of Matabeleland, especially the residents of Bulawayo, to work together in conserving the water they have. People should not leave water taps running and they should not flush toilets unnecessarily. These are just a few of the many ways in which residents can save water,” the minister said.

Nkomo said his ministry had invited a delegation from Israel to visit Zimbabwe to study the Save River, which has been identified as one of the most heavily silted in the country.

“The Israelis I met last year are going to be looking at the Save River which has high levels of siltation in order to find ways in which its water can be preserved,” he said.