Zimbabwe: Bulawayo Dams Record Significant Water Inflows

22 February 2023

Bulawayo water supply dams have recorded 57 percent water inflows following recent heavy rains which have been pounding most parts of the country.

Bulawayo City Council last year introduced a gruelling 72-hour water shedding schedule following the dwindling of water levels in the city's supply dams.

Since the start of the rainy season last year, the city's dams had not gained any significant inflows with UMzingwane and Upper Ncema Dams remaining decommissioned.

According to the local authority, as of February 20, 2023, Insiza Mayfair is 73.15 percent full, Inyankuni 45.61, Lower Ncema 30. 96 percent, Umzingwane 17.27 while Upper Ncema and Mtshabezi are 41.68 and 74.75 percent respectively.

The total volume of the city's water supply dams now stood at 234 950 268 cubic meters.

Bulawayo City Council's corporate communications manager Nesisa Mpofu explained that of the 234 950 268 cubic meters, 218 365 160 cubic meters of water is unusable.

The city's water capacity plummeted to an all-time low of 35.27 percent in February 2020.

Last week the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) announced that the city together with Mt.Darwin and Mutoko remain water insecure with less than 12 months of water supplies in their raw water sources.

Last year, the city was hit by a diarrhoea outbreak with 157 cases reported in Tshabalala high density while the previous year, 13 residents in the city died from the waterborne disease.

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.