WARD 25 councillor Aleck Ndlovu has revealed that Bulawayo is exploring a new water utility model to address the city’s chronic water shortage.
A water utility is a public or private organisation responsible for providing safe drinking water and treating wastewater to a community.
These organisations manage the entire water cycle, including sourcing, treatment, storage and distribution through extensive pipe networks, as well as the collection and treatment of sewage to protect public health and the environment.
Speaking after a benchmarking visit to Lusaka, Zambia, Ndlovu said Bulawayo City Council is considering forming a standalone water utility authority to manage the resource and provide efficient services.
“Bulawayo is a water crisis city with a serious water shortage that has gone on for decades,”he said.
“We have reached a point where people are deprived of a basic necessity, which is a human right.
“We need to take drastic measures to break this cycle of suffering.”
Ndlovu explained that Zambia’s experience with 11 water utilities under the Ministry of Water and Sanitation Provision provided a valuable case study for Bulawayo.
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“We found that Zambia is so much advanced in terms of water resource management,” he said.
“Their utilities are efficient, and they have attracted significant funding and partnerships.”
He said the proposed water utility will be wholly owned by the city of Bulawayo and will operate along corporate lines.
“This will make us attractive to financiers, partners, and collaborators who can help us upgrade our infrastructure,” Ndlovu said.
“The good thing is that our proposal is not about privatisation.
“It’s about efficient management and service delivery.”
He said the formation of a water utility authority is expected to bring the much-needed relief to Bulawayo’s residents, who have been struggling with water shortages for far too long.
Noted Ndlovu:“We need to ensure that our citizens have access to clean and safe water at a minimum cost.
“It’s a basic human right, and we are committed to making it a reality.”
According to reports, earlier this month, mayor David Coltart recently outlined the city’s dire needs and proposed solutions at a recent water indaba.
He revealed that Bulawayo City Council requires approximately US$14,5 million to address immediate infrastructure problems, including renewing water mains, rehabilitating pumps and repairing frequent pipe bursts.
Experts have said the long-term solution to the water crisis is the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam by the central government.
Coltart also indicated plans to establish a 100% council-owned water utility to unlock funding and explore water recycling for industrial use, inspired by cities like Windhoek, Namibia.
