The
residents
expressed
optimism
that
the
Bulawayo
City
Council
(BCC)
could
ease
or
end
the
long-running
water
rationing
system,
which
has
been
in
place
following
successive
droughts.
Their
remarks
came
after
a
tour
of
the
city’s
supply
dams
in
Matabeleland
South
on
Tuesday.
The
visit
was
organised
by
the
Bulawayo
Progressive
Residents
Association
(BPRA)
and
attended
by
representatives
from
the
Ministry
of
Local
Government,
civil
society
groups
and
community
members.
BPRA
director
Permanent
Ngoma
said
the
rise
in
water
levels
offered
hope
to
residents
who
have
endured
prolonged
water
shedding.
“We
are
very
happy
with
what
we
have
seen
here.
The
water
levels
at
the
dams
are
quite
promising,”
she
said.
“We
are
hopeful
that
in
the
near
future
residents
will
be
relieved
of
the
water
shedding
that
has
been
bedevilling
them
since
the
previous
drought
seasons.”
She
noted
that
Umzingwane
Dam,
which
was
decommissioned
during
the
2022/23
season
because
of
low
rainfall,
is
now
about
46%
full.
“This
is
such
a
relief
to
the
residents
of
Bulawayo,”
she
said.
However,
Ms
Ngoma
warned
that
environmental
degradation
around
the
catchment
areas
could
undermine
the
gains
made
during
the
rainy
season.
“At
Upper
Ncema,
the
situation
is
dire
because
of
illegal
gold
mining
activities,”
she
said.
“As
residents,
we
need
to
partner
with
the
local
authority
and
lobby
government
to
take
immediate
action
against
mining
operations
happening
in
the
dams’
catchment
areas.”
Women’s
rights
activist
Jacqueline
Ndlovu
said
improved
water
levels
would
bring
relief
to
women,
who
are
often
most
affected
by
shortages.
“We
are
delighted
that
the
water
level
has
improved.
This
will
be
a
welcome
relief
for
women,
who
are
the
primary
caregivers
and
have
been
bearing
the
brunt
of
water
shortages,”
she
said.
She
urged
the
council
to
act
swiftly
on
water
rationing
and
called
on
the
government
to
address
illegal
mining
near
the
dams.
“All
we
need
is
support
that
will
help
improve
the
water
situation
so
that
residents
can
have
adequate
water
at
all
times,”
she
said.
BPRA
chairperson
Stevenson
Nkomo
said
the
tour
had
helped
residents
better
understand
the
state
of
the
dams
and
the
challenges
affecting
supply.
“What
we
saw
during
the
tour
is
quite
satisfactory
and
tallies
with
the
reports
we
have
been
receiving
from
the
council
and
the
media,”
he
said.
“Even
with
a
good
rainy
season,
our
dam
levels
remain
relatively
low
due
to
illegal
mining
activities.”
He
added
that
while
the
group
had
hoped
to
inspect
all
supply
dams,
particularly
those
affected
by
large-scale
mining,
the
visit
had
provided
a
clearer
picture
of
the
situation
on
the
ground.