Bulawayo has moved to fast-track the registration of a new water utility, a landmark step toward the privatisation of its water services as an "escalating" crisis forces a dramatic shift in governance.
The decision follows an urgent meeting on March 19, 2026, where the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works reaffirmed a national policy endorsing increased private-sector participation and public-private partnerships (PPPs) to stabilise water delivery.
During the meeting, the City of Bulawayo was specifically directed to engage Helcraw Water as a strategic partner to address the city’s critical supply challenges. Helcraw is owned by Zanu PF MP Farai Jere and the company already has a similar arrangement with the Harare City Council.
To facilitate this partnership, the Bulawayo City Council is establishing the Bulawayo Water and Sanitation Utility.
According to a report by town clerk Christopher Dube, the formal registration of this utility is a "critical milestone" intended to create a governance structure that private investors, financiers, and strategic partners "preferred engaging."
As part of the transition, all staff currently employed by the city’s water and sanitation department will be transferred to the new utility.
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The council plans to use a temporary board to oversee the three-month registration and transition period, ensuring "institutional readiness" for forthcoming private-sector engagements24.
The move toward privatisation has not been without friction.
During council deliberations, some officials expressed concern over the speed of the transition and the level of public involvement.
Councillor Dumisani Netha opposed the registration of the utility, arguing that residents had not been "adequately consulted."
Deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu noted that while the ministry’s direction toward privatisation necessitated a rapid response, the board’s composition needed to include "outsiders" so that residents would "gain confidence in the process."
Dube initially proposed a board comprised entirely of internal city management.
However, following the debate, the council revised the structure to include a mix of internal expertise and community oversight.
The temporary board will now consist of three management members, two councillors, and two representatives nominated by the Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) and the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (Bpra).
The three internal management members confirmed for the board include chamber secretary Sikhangele Zhou, assistant human capital director Ephraim Ncube, and corporate communication manager Nesisa Mpofu.
Their primary responsibility will be ensuring the utility’s "operational readiness" and overseeing the transition of staff and financial systems.
The council is currently awaiting the names of the two resident representatives to finalise the board.
Once operational, this temporary body will pave the way for a substantive board to take over, marking a permanent change in how Bulawayo manages its most precious resource.
As the city struggles with aging infrastructure and recurring droughts, this shift toward a private-sector-friendly utility model represents a high-stakes gamble on the efficiency of public-private partnerships.