Bulawayo water supplies set to improve

Residents in Bulawayo could soon experience improved water availability following a better 2025–26 rainy season that has significantly boosted dam levels.

Deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu said the city council is currently testing new water supply schedules, although no formal timetable has yet been announced.

"We are seeing that the rainy season is slowly coming to an end. We are thankful… the dams have water. They are not full to capacity, some of them, but the water is there," he said.

"So these days, we are trying to ensure that residents of Bulawayo get water. We haven't said publicly how we are giving it to them, we are still on trial runs."

Ndlovu added that authorities are experimenting with more consistent supply options, including providing water for 24 hours a day or up to 48 hours per week, depending on system performance.

The city, which has endured years of severe water shortages due to low rainfall, ageing infrastructure and rising demand, is now seeing gradual relief.

Bulawayo draws its water from several key dams, including Mtshabezi, Insiza, Inyankuni, Lower Ncema, Upper Ncema and Umzingwane. In recent years, these reservoirs have been critically depleted due to erratic rainfall patterns linked to climate variability, forcing prolonged water-shedding programmes.

Acting director of water and sanitation, engineer Kwanele Sibanda, said the situation has improved markedly this season.

According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, as of April 14, Mtshabezi Dam was full at 100%, while Insiza stood at 84.9%, Inyankuni at 30.6%, Lower Ncema at 35.8%, Upper Ncema at 56.3% and Umzingwane at 50.2%.

Umzingwane Dam, which had been decommissioned in November 2023 due to critically low water levels, has since been brought back into operation following improved inflows.

Despite the gains, Sibanda cautioned that electricity supply remains a key challenge affecting water delivery.

"As much as we say water is available in the dams, there is electricity to deal with," he said, noting that power outages disrupt pumping operations.

He added that infrastructure issues such as pipe bursts can also interrupt supply, although the city is working to address these challenges.

In the long term, Sibanda said the council plans to introduce solar power at pumping stations to reduce reliance on the national grid and improve consistency in water distribution.

"Our wish is for the people of Bulawayo to receive water," he said.