BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has approved the appointment of a temporary board to oversee the registration and initial operationalisation of the proposed Bulawayo Water Utility.
The local authority is pressing ahead with plans to establish the utility, a move that some residents have criticised as the privatisation of water services.
According to a report presented by town clerk Christopher Dube on May 5, council confirmed the establishment of the board.
"Council had earlier resolved during its 1 April 2026 meeting to appoint temporary board members who would provide governance, oversight and guidance during the establishment phase of the utility," the report said.
Council agreed that five members will be drawn from the City of Bulawayo’s management team, while two others will represent residents' associations.
Three management representatives had already been confirmed: Ephraim Ncube, assistant director in the human capital department; Nesisa Mpofu, corporate communications manager; and Sikhangele Zhou, chamber secretary for legal and administration.
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The town clerk subsequently nominated Cyprian Dabengwa, deputy finance director and Methusi Dibidi, acting director of works, to complete management representation on the board.
The other members approved by council were Permanent Ngoma, nominated by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association, and Nobukhosi Dube, nominated by the Bulawayo Residents Association.
Council noted that no chairperson was selected during the initial appointment process.
A subsequent report, therefore, sought endorsement of Ngoma as temporary board chairperson.
The report also recommended replacing Zhou with Thandekile Ngwenya, principal legal officer, as company secretary to avoid conflict of interest, as Zhou also serves as company secretary for the shareholder, the City of Bulawayo.
Council subsequently approved Ngoma’s appointment as temporary board chairperson and endorsed the replacement of Zhou with Ngwenya as company secretary.
According to the report, the board is expected to provide oversight and guide the early stages of establishing the Bulawayo Water Utility.