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Three million people face water shortages - Cross
05 Feb 2016 at 03:24hrs | Views
MDC-T legislator Eddie Cross has predicted mass migration of rural people to urban areas due to critical water shortages in the countryside.
Cross said the migration will put a strain on the already burdened water supply situations in urban areas. Most major cities are struggling to provide adequate water.
He said about 3 000 000 people are going to be affected by water shortages.
Last week, Harare went dry for almost four days.
This week, Gweru City Council warned that it might introduce water rationing soon, as water levels at its main water supplier, Gwenoro Dam, had dropped to 46% of its holding capacity, while its supplementary dam, Amapongokwe was at 60%.
Said Cross in parliament on Thursday "The situation is that Gweru has four months water left in its dams. Let me just reiterate that Gweru, the third largest city in the country, has four months water in its dams.
"In Bulawayo we have already decommissioned one dam. We are preparing to decommission a second. So, out of the six dams in Bulawayo a third will be decommissioned before May.
"The problem in Bulawayo is that, as you decommission dams, you lose the capacity to deliver water because each dam has its own pipeline.
"If you are left, as we are, with just Insiza dam with a single pipeline supplying Bulawayo, we can only supply Bulawayo with 20% or 30% of its total demands.
"The Bulawayo City Council has already imposed restrictions at 60% of free demand. Bulawayo has a good track record in terms of managing its water supplies, but Mr. Speaker, I want to tell you that if we do not do anything about infrastructure in Bulawayo, the very real danger is that Bulawayo could run out of water with dire consequences.
"Now, Mr. Speaker Sir, this points to a national emergency. It is my view that more than 3 000 000 people are going to be affected by water shortages this winter and for many of those families they are going to have to move to town to relatives to survive. They are not going to be able to find water for their domestic purposes in the rural areas. Our city situation is by no means good".
Cross said the migration will put a strain on the already burdened water supply situations in urban areas. Most major cities are struggling to provide adequate water.
He said about 3 000 000 people are going to be affected by water shortages.
Last week, Harare went dry for almost four days.
This week, Gweru City Council warned that it might introduce water rationing soon, as water levels at its main water supplier, Gwenoro Dam, had dropped to 46% of its holding capacity, while its supplementary dam, Amapongokwe was at 60%.
"In Bulawayo we have already decommissioned one dam. We are preparing to decommission a second. So, out of the six dams in Bulawayo a third will be decommissioned before May.
"The problem in Bulawayo is that, as you decommission dams, you lose the capacity to deliver water because each dam has its own pipeline.
"If you are left, as we are, with just Insiza dam with a single pipeline supplying Bulawayo, we can only supply Bulawayo with 20% or 30% of its total demands.
"The Bulawayo City Council has already imposed restrictions at 60% of free demand. Bulawayo has a good track record in terms of managing its water supplies, but Mr. Speaker, I want to tell you that if we do not do anything about infrastructure in Bulawayo, the very real danger is that Bulawayo could run out of water with dire consequences.
"Now, Mr. Speaker Sir, this points to a national emergency. It is my view that more than 3 000 000 people are going to be affected by water shortages this winter and for many of those families they are going to have to move to town to relatives to survive. They are not going to be able to find water for their domestic purposes in the rural areas. Our city situation is by no means good".
Source - Byo24News
