Source: 17 years no water in Pumula South | The Sunday News
Yolanda Mlilo, Sunday News Reporter
MORE than 1200 households in Bulawayo’s Pumula South suburb have been without water supply for the past 17 years, primarily because of the Bulawayo City Council’s failure to connect a vital water supply pipe to the area.This prolonged shortage has forced residents to rely on man-made boreholes, most of which are not safe and costly private water vendors.
Ward 27 Councillor Lizzy Sibanda confirmed the dire situation highlighting the health risks that residents face as a result of the ongoing water crisis.
“More than 1 200 houses stretching from Mpofu shops to Ngwalo Ngwalo Primary School and the side opposite Premier High School have gone for over 17 years without water supplies due to a pipe that was left incomplete by the local authority,” she stated.
She added that while residents have depended on council water bowsers, they often go for weeks without delivering water.
Residents of Pumula South queue to fetch water from a bowser in this file photo
“The residents have been relying on council bowsers but these can stay up to two weeks without delivering water. As we speak, it has been two weeks without any bowser coming to the suburb due to some technical issues,” Clr Sibanda noted.
She said in her engagements with council officials she was informed of their intent to install the crucial pipe necessary for improving access to water services.
However, she expressed concern over the delays, particularly as the community comprises many elderly residents and people with disabilities.
“What is worrying is that despite these known challenges, residents are still getting high bills but what we don’t want is for them to be charged for water consumption when they don’t use water,” she said.
“In some cases, some are charged for water consumption but when we report to the city council, they clear water consumption charges,” she added.
Residents interviewed expressed their frustration and exhaustion from the daily struggle to access water from boreholes, a task that has become increasingly tedious.
Residents queue to fetch water in this file picture
Mr Solomon Nyoni, a local resident, shared his concerns: “We are appealing for the establishment of water kiosks to store water from bowsers, enabling an alternating water collection system and ensuring a steady water supply for the community until the permanent solution is implemented.
It has been 17 years and we are still struggling. We cannot get water for our every need and hygiene standards have declined as it is impossible to fetch water for everything. Purchasing water for drinking is expensive,” he said.
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