Bulawayo residents pin hopes on proposed Bopoma Glass Block dam

Residents have welcomed the proposed Bopoma Glass Block Dam project in Matabeleland South, expressing optimism that it will help alleviate the city's persistent water shortages.

During a Ward 28 consultative meeting on the city's medium-term water supply strategy held at Mahlathini Primary School on Sunday, residents described the project as a much-needed intervention.

Paul Makiwa, one of the attendees, emphasized the urgency of the project, urging authorities to avoid delays similar to those experienced with the Gwayi-Shangani and Zambezi River projects.

"It shouldn't be just promises like the Gwayi-Shangani and the Zambezi River Project, which have taken a long time to be completed. We are urging the council to make sure it is completed on time," he said.

Makiwa also raised concerns over environmental degradation, blaming some Chinese mining companies for causing siltation in the region's water bodies.

"We have the Chinese coming to Zimbabwe causing national disasters. Water is not flowing well into the dams because of the siltation they are causing. They even damage pipes when they are digging. We really urge the government to look closely into the problems caused by the Chinese," he added.

Another resident, Naison Sibanda, highlighted the importance of addressing the siltation affecting existing dams.

"What about the other dams which have been affected by siltation? Let us scoop the old dams," Sibanda said, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to the city's water crisis.

Bulawayo City Council (BCC) engineer Kwanele Sibanda provided an overview of the dam project, explaining that it would be situated at the intersection of Umzingwane and Filabusi districts.

"The Bopoma Dam and Pipeline Project has been identified as a medium-term solution to provide additional water for Bulawayo. It will have a dam yield of approximately 68 megalitres per day," he said.

Sibanda added that the Glass Block Bopoma Dam is expected to hold 129 million cubic metres of water, significantly boosting the city's water supply.

The project will involve the construction of a pipeline to transport water to Lower Ncema Treatment Works. The cost of producing treated water from the new supply will be US$1.38 per cubic metre, Sibanda revealed.

The initiative is spearheaded by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate, and Resettlement, which is overseeing the dam's construction and water distribution infrastructure.

Residents are optimistic that the Bopoma Glass Block Dam will provide much-needed relief from chronic water shortages, but they remain cautious, urging authorities to ensure the project's swift and successful completion.