Erratic Rains Bring no Respite to Thirsty Bulawayo Residents

WASHINGTON DC —  The Bulawayo City Council says its tight water rationing regime will continue, citing poor rains that have failed to boost the city’s supply dams.

The local authority shuts down water four days per week, a situation that has left residents in dire straits and even caused a lot of company closures.

City authorities say their supply dams have only received 0,35 percent of water from erratic rains that have fallen since November. But residents are not convinced.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association water affairs secretary Anglistone Sibanda told VOA the city council doesn’t appear entirely committed to addressing the water issue.

Interview With Anglistone Sibanda

The water crisis in Zimbabwe's second largest city of Bulawayo has reached precarious levels with the local council tightening its rationing measures and depriving residents of the precious liquid at least three days a week.

The city lies in the heart of the semi-arid Matabeleland region. A century-old ambitious plan to draw water from the Zambezi River to the city has remained a pipe-dream, though officials say the project is now underway.