Residents want alternative system
Providence Moyo, Senior Reporter
Bulawayo residents are appealing to the Bulawayo City Council to find an alternative water pumping system to sidestep persistent powercuts.
The call comes in the midst of a water crisis that has seen some parts of the city enduring more than three weeks without the precious liquid.
Agreement Tshuma of Luveve said the city fathers should invest in alternative water pumping systems that will back up power from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) so that residents are not inconvenienced when loadshedding hits the city.
“Electricity challenges are not a new thing in Zimbabwe. Our leaders should invest in finding another way of pumping water because for years we have experienced loadshedding and it does not seem to be a problem that will go away anytime soon,” said Tshuma.
Another resident, Paul Ngwenya of Nkulumane 12 concurred with Tshuma and said the water situation in the city exposes vulnerable members of society, especially women and girls, to abuse as some Nkulumane women and girls have resorted to sleeping at borehole spots so that they are among the first to fetch water during the wee hours.
“Sicela ikhansili isizwele. Omama labantwana sebelala ezibholaneni bemelele ukuthi kutshaye u 5 ekuseni isibholani sivulwe besebe thola ukuthi beqale ukukotshoza. Bantu bakithi Asizwelaneni ngoba kuthiwa amanzi yimpilo,” he said.
Ngwenya’s concern was extended to school learners who spend hours hunting for water at the expense of their academics. He said learners in this predicament are bound to perform poorly due to inadequate time for study, sleep and rest.
BCC Town Clerk, Christopher Dube said the local authority is doing “everything” possible to solve the crisis that is most pronounced in the high-lying areas of the city.
“The city is also hiring additional water trucks to deliver water to high-lying areas such as Nkulumane, Emganwini, Pumula, Magwegwe and Entumbane and also using existing infrastructure such as water kiosks strategically located throughout the city. The city is calling upon well-wishers to assist with funding and in-kind donations of materials to repair and rehabilitate hand-pumps as well as procuring 20 litre containers for residents especially those in high- lying areas,” he said.
Dube also decried dam levels especially at Umzingwane Dam which is supposed to be decommissioned this August. The dam is at lowly 17% capacity.
According to BCC, 8-10 hours power supply allows the dams to pump a maximum of 50 mega litres per day.
