Cowdray Park has gone dry for more than two weeks

For over two weeks, a significant portion of Cowdray Park in Bulawayo has been without water, exposing more than 1,000 residents to the risk of waterborne diseases. This situation has raised concerns among residents, particularly as Zimbabwe is currently grappling with a cholera outbreak that has claimed over 100 lives. Authorities attribute the lack of water in the area to a technical fault.

In an interview with Southern Eye, a representative of the residents, Etmas Mthombeni, explained that they have been without water for two weeks and have resorted to obtaining water from open wells, which is not a safe water source.

Ward 6 councillor Nkosinathi Hove Mpofu highlighted that the ward is facing several urgent issues, with the water crisis taking priority. He expressed concern that people in the area are using wells located near pit latrines, and in some areas, there is a lack of toilet facilities. He emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to prevent the area from becoming a potential cholera hotspot.

Masvingo born Bulawayo's deputy mayor, Donaldson Mabuto, mentioned that he was not aware of the situation but suggested that the ward councillor should engage with engineers to resolve the issue. He explained that high-lying areas, including Cowdray Park, may experience water supply problems when the city's reservoirs are low. To address this, city tankers are dispatched to supply water to the affected residents.