BCC water woes

THE WATER CRISIS IN BULAWAYO KEEPS ON TAKING A MORE EXTREME DIMENSION. IN THE COCKTAIL OF PROBLEMS RESIDENTS HAVE TO ENDURE ON A DAILY TO DAY BASIS ARE COUNTLESS STORIES OF LONG QUES, EARLY MORNING ENCOUNTERS AND CONSTANT WAITING IN THE HOPE THAT TAPS WILL RUN ONCE AGAIN.

RECENTLY, COUNCIL INTRODUCED A 96-HOUR WATER SHEDDING SCHEDULE WHICH AT TIMES STRETCHES TO FIVE DAYS OR MORE AS SOME RESIDENTS HAVE TESTIFIED. SUCH A SITUATION IS JUST UNTENABLE, THEY SAY.

ACCORDING TO THE BULAWAYO CITY COUNCIL, UPPER NCEMA WILL BE DEPLETED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH WHILE UMZINGWANE WILL RUN DRY BY OCTOBER THIS YEAR. LOWER NCEMA IS EXPECTED TO RUN DRY IN MAY NEXT YEAR.

CONSENSUS IS THAT THE ONLY LONG TERM SOLUTION TO BULAWAYO WATER WOES LIE IN THE GWAYI SHANGANI DAM PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN IN THE PIPELINE FOR DECADES NOW. FOR MANY IN THE CITY OF KINGS, IT IS ONLY RUNNING TAPS WHICH WILL CONFIRM THAT THE CRISIS HAS BEEN ADDRESSED. FOR NOW, IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THAT WILL HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON.

ENDS///