Bulawayo Needs US$14,5 Million to Fix Crumbling Water Infrastructure

Mayor David Coltart says Bulawayo city needs at least US$14,5 million to overhaul its ageing water and sewer infrastructure, a crisis that continues to leave thousands of residents dry for weeks.

Speaking at the Matabeleland Water Indaba, Coltart said the city has for years battled persistent water shortages, with its dams only filling up during rare tropical cyclones.

“The City of Bulawayo has, for many years, faced persistent water shortages.

“Without a tropical cyclone, it is almost impossible for the city’s supply dams to fill up,” he said.

He added that the city last enjoyed full dams in 2017, when a cyclone swept across the country.

Since then, Bulawayo has had to rely on erratic inflows and prayer.

Coltart said the city urgently needs to replace decaying pipelines, malfunctioning pumps, and over 1 000 non-functional meters key contributors to water losses that account for nearly 46% of Bulawayo’s supply.

According to a report by NewsDay, the mayor emphasised that the money would fund short-term rehabilitation works, while medium and long-term plans focus on bigger projects like the Glass Block Bopoma Dam and the much-delayed Gwayi-Shangani Dam, spearheaded by the central government.

“The common thread among these initiatives is the need for substantial funding,” Coltart said.

“This presents both a challenge and an opportunity as we rethink sustainable water strategies for Bulawayo.”

He added that council is exploring partnerships with the private sector and has proposed a council-owned water and sanitation utility to attract investment and improve accountability.

“With climate change worsening the city’s plight, we are also studying the feasibility of water recycling for industrial use,” Coltart revealed, citing Windhoek, Namibia, as a successful model for reuse.

He applauded the Water Indaba for uniting government, civil society, and researchers in seeking lasting solutions.

“Through such collaborative efforts, we can ensure the next generation does not face the same water challenges we have endured,” he said.