BULAWAYO residents will continue to endure water-shedding for the foreseeable future, despite improving dam levels, as ageing and inadequate infrastructure cripples the city’s ability to supply sufficient water.
According to the latest Dam Watch report released by the City of Bulawayo, the six supply dams — Insiza, Inyankuni, Lower Ncema, Umzingwane, Upper Ncema and Mtshabezi — now hold a combined 414,6 million cubic metres of water.
The report shows a notable improvement compared to the same period last year when dam levels stood at 49,77%.
Mtshabezi Dam has reached full capacity at 100,22% and is spilling, while Insiza Dam has recorded cumulative inflows of more than 72 million cubic metres since the start of the rainy season.
Mayor David Coltart, however, stressed that the crisis is no longer about water availability, but the city’s capacity to deliver it.
“We can have 100% full dams at the end of this season and still not be able to deliver sufficient quantities of water to residents,” Coltart said during a recent council meeting.
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He indicated that critical infrastructure, some of it dating back decades, is failing to meet the growing demands of the city.
“Key pipelines, including those linked to the Umzingwane-Ncema and Insiza systems, require urgent upgrading or diversion.
“The pump stations are decades old; they need replacement.”
Coltart added that even existing reservoirs, such as the Thuli system, had limited capacity, further compounding the problem.
“Until these works are done, we will not be able to meet the demands of residents. Water shedding will remain a reality,” the mayor said.
Bulawayo has suffered chronic water shortages for over two decades.
Recurring droughts have repeatedly reduced inflows into the city’s supply dams — including Umzingwane, Insiza and Mtshabezi — forcing authorities to implement drastic water rationing.