The Bulawayo City Council is facing a critical shortage of funds to repair water leaks, exacerbating water losses and prolonging shortages for residents, according to the latest council minutes.
The financial constraints were revealed during a discussion on the city’s water augmentation projects, where councillors raised urgent concerns about the allocation of a special water levy designed to address the very issue of non-revenue water.
Councillor Khalazani Ndlovu highlighted the council’s struggle to secure money for repairs and sought clarity on whether the special levy could be ring-fenced specifically for fixing leaks.
She requested a detailed report on the levy’s usage and current balances.
Councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo inquired if a formal recommendation could be made to protect these funds.
Bulawayo deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu expressed stronger concern, stating the US$1 levy had been requested without a clear plan for its use.
He called for a review to determine how the collected funds have been spent so far.
In response, the water and sanitation section clarified that the current budget already designates the special levy exclusively for non-revenue water initiatives.
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“Consequently, the department had proposed ring- fencing a specific percentage of the special levy to fund additional non-revenue water activities,” read the minutes.
The department has now proposed to formally ring-fence a specific percentage of the levy to fund additional leak-repair activities.
It was confirmed that the levy’s original purpose was to address water loss from leaks and repair aging infrastructure.
However, officials indicated a need to more clearly define which infrastructure projects are eligible for this funding.
With immediate funds lacking, one proposed strategic course of action is to include all related water-loss projects in the city’s procurement plan for 2026.
