The 2023-2024 rainy season brought welcome precipitation to many parts of Zimbabwe, offering a temporary reprieve from the prevailing dryness. However, for the residents of Bulawayo, the country’s second city, the legacy of erratic rainfall and deeper systemic issues means the water crisis continues unabated, hitting household budgets and daily lives with increasing severity. Far from relief, many find themselves facing weeks without running water, forcing them into a desperate reliance on alternative sources, often at exorbitant prices. The emergence of “water barons,” individuals exploiting the scarcity by selling borehole water for as much as US$2 per 100 litres, starkly illustrates the dire situation gripping the city.

The Daily Struggle: Queues, Costs, and Opportunism

For thousands in Bulawayo, particularly in the western suburbs, the daily reality involves long queues at communal boreholes or scrambling for expensive private water deliveries. Reports from areas like Lobengula Extension and New Magwegwe paint a picture of profound hardship. Residents have spoken of going weeks without tap water, forcing difficult choices. Many are now purchasing bottled water for drinking and cooking, while relying on borehole water – the quality of which can be variable – for laundry and bathing.

This desperation has created a new, informal economy. Alongside the water barons controlling access to boreholes and charging fees for what should arguably be a free resource, “laundry maids” have also appeared. Capitalising on the situation, they offer washing services at water points for a fixed rate, providing a needed service while trying to make a living amidst the crisis. As one resident noted, the ingenuity is admirable, but it underscores the sheer lack of basic services.

Compounding the problem is the reported non-functionality of all seven of the Bulawayo City Council’s water bowsers. These vehicles are crucial for delivering emergency water supplies to high-lying areas or during crises like funerals. Their absence leaves residents even more vulnerable, often with no choice but to use potentially unsafe sources or pay premium prices to private suppliers. Concerns have also been raised about the social environment around crowded boreholes, particularly regarding the safety of vulnerable individuals and the potential for illicit activities.

Why Now? The Immediate Technical Failures

The current intensification of the water shedding programme stems from critical failures within the city’s water pumping infrastructure. The Bulawayo Town Clerk, Mr Christopher Dube, recently explained the gravity of the situation. Key pumps responsible for moving water from supply dams to the city’s main treatment works (Criterion) and then distributing it, are damaged. Crucial spare parts need to be sourced internationally, leading to anticipated delays of two to three weeks before repairs can hopefully commence.

Consequently, the main pumping stations are operating at only 50 percent capacity. This means the daily volume of treated water entering the city’s network has plummeted from around 90 million litres to just 45 million litres. The Criterion waterworks, the primary source feeding the city’s main reservoirs (Magwegwe, 6J, and Hillside), is therefore receiving only half its usual intake.

This reduced flow has a cascade effect. Reservoirs struggle to fill, particularly impacting high-lying suburbs like Emganwini, Nkulumane, and Pumula, which draw water directly (“off-takes”) from the struggling Magwegwe reservoir. When reservoir levels drop significantly (below 50-70 percent capacity was mentioned), the water pressure is insufficient to reach elevated properties, resulting in prolonged periods without any water supply – the “dry taps” residents are experiencing.

Restoring supply even when repairs are done is not instantaneous. Mr Dube highlighted several challenges:

1. Filling Reservoirs: With reduced inflow, simply filling the main reservoirs takes considerably longer.
2. Recharging Pipelines: Extensive periods without water leave the pipe network empty. These vast systems need to be completely refilled before water pressure builds sufficiently to reach homes, a time-consuming process.
3. Household Storage Tanks: The widespread use of “Jojo” tanks, while understandable for coping, complicates restoration. When supply resumes, these tanks often fill first, drawing significant volume and reducing the pressure available to other households further down the network.
4. Normal Usage: Once water starts flowing, normal household consumption immediately places further strain on the already limited supply.

Beyond Broken Pumps: Decades of Neglect and Environmental Pressures

While pump failures are the immediate trigger for the current severity, Bulawayo’s water woes run much deeper, stemming from decades of underinvestment and mounting environmental pressures. Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor David Coltart, has been vocal about the multifaceted nature of the crisis.

Firstly, underinvestment in infrastructure is a critical factor. Mayor Coltart bluntly stated that the city has not seen significant investment in its water infrastructure, particularly the laying of new pipes, for roughly four decades. The existing network is old, likely prone to leaks (non-revenue water), and simply insufficient for the city’s current needs. Even if the dams were full, the Mayor cautioned, the “dilapidated piping system” remains a major bottleneck.

Secondly, inadequate raw water sources relative to population growth play a role. The city has grown, but the development of new primary water sources has not kept pace. Existing supply dams are under pressure.

Thirdly, environmental factors exacerbate the situation. The recent El Niño phenomenon contributed to drought conditions, lowering dam levels significantly. Mayor Coltart stated during a council meeting that dams were sitting at around 48-49 percent capacity (though he mentioned a lower figure of 29% capacity in a separate ward meeting context, potentially reflecting different timings or specific dam combinations), necessitating the continuation of water shedding. He stressed the need to adhere to the council’s long-standing “21-month rule,” a policy designed to ensure enough water reserves to last 21 months even with poor rains.

Furthermore, Mayor Coltart highlighted the detrimental impact of illegal gold panning along the rivers feeding the city’s supply dams, such as Umzingwane. He described observing minimal water flow into the dam despite heavy rains, attributing this directly to the activities of illegal miners disrupting natural watercourses, despite a government ban on such riverbed activities.

Finally, erratic electricity supply from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) poses another challenge. Unscheduled power cuts can damage sensitive pumping equipment at crucial installations like the Ncema pumping station, which requires specific operational sequences.

Potential Solutions: Short-Term Fixes and Long-Term Visions

Addressing Bulawayo’s water crisis requires a two-pronged approach: immediate relief and long-term strategic investment.

In the short term, the priority is repairing the damaged pumps. Procuring the necessary spares from abroad is underway, according to the Town Clerk, though the two-to-three-week timeframe signals continued hardship for residents. Fixing the council’s water bowsers to allow for emergency distribution is also essential.

Looking towards medium to long-term solutions, several initiatives have been discussed:

1. New Water Sources: Mayor Coltart emphasised the need for additional raw water sources, specifically mentioning the completion of the Glassblock Bopoma Dam project as vital. (The much larger, national Gwayi-Shangani pipeline project, while often cited as a panacea, requires significant progress to impact Bulawayo).
2. Pipeline Upgrades: Stalled upgrades to key pipelines, including those connecting Mtshabezi dam to Umzingwane and the Insiza pipeline, need to be completed to improve water delivery volumes to the treatment plants.
3. Infrastructure Overhaul: A systematic programme to replace the ageing pipe network is fundamentally required, although this represents a massive, long-term undertaking requiring substantial funding.
4. Power Solutions: Consideration is reportedly being given to installing dedicated solar power plants at pumping stations like Ncema to reduce reliance on the national grid and mitigate damage from power cuts.
5. Catchment Management: Addressing illegal gold panning and other activities that impede water flow into dams requires enforcement and sustainable alternative livelihoods.

Bulawayo’s water crisis is a complex web of immediate technical breakdowns layered upon decades of infrastructure neglect, compounded by population growth, climate patterns, and environmental damage. The daily struggle for water, marked by high costs, long queues, and opportunistic pricing, highlights the urgent need for action. While fixing the pumps offers a glimmer of short-term hope, sustainable solutions demand significant, consistent investment in new water sources, pipeline upgrades, and robust infrastructure management. The resilience of Bulawayo’s residents is being tested daily, and the path to water security remains a long and challenging one, requiring commitment and effective implementation from both local authorities and national government.