Life Without Access The city’s water crisis exposes deep inequalities, forcing vulnerable residents to confront daily struggles for basic survival. by MARGARET LUBINDA The current water crisis gripping Bulawayo was predicted years ago. The city’s geographical location and the effects of climate change have long been central to its water challenges. However, these natural issues are now compounded by human-made and structural problems. Researchers trace the roots of the crisis back to 1986, a time when water was still accessible through boreholes, bowsers, and manageable water-shedding schedules—a stark contrast to today. With the city’s population now at 668,949 and a housing waiting list of 130,000, the city’s crumbling sewer and water systems are buckling under immense strain. Rapid urbanization, particularly in high-density suburbs, has increased water demand, contributing to severe water stress. This explains why water shortages are most acute in high-density suburbs compared to eastern suburbs, where population density is lower. In Emganwini, for instance, taps have been dry for over a month. Residents now rely on four out of six operational boreholes, which are in poor condition. Residents are required to pay $2 monthly for borehole maintenance. Vulnerable groups—such as people with disabilities, pregnant women, schoolchildren, and the elderly—have normalized going days without bathing or washing clothes, reserving the little water they get for basic household chores. At Tashas, a neighbourhood grappling with a severe water crisis, two JoJo tanks were installed by a local politician a few years back. However, the tanks remain perpetually dry. “They were installed a long time ago, but they are always empty,” says a resident who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals. “We even arranged a meeting with community elders to inform our Councilor (Mpumelelo Moyo) that if JoJo tanks stay empty for too long, they crack. But he didn’t attend the meeting.” “We’ve tried to get water delivered via bowsers, calling everyone we could. But they ignore us or only send water sporadically,” says a resident. Residents allege Moyo lives in Montgomery, making him disconnected from their struggles. With no office to report issues, residents claim they rely on phone calls, which are never unanswered. Moyo, however, denies the accusations and insists that he lives in the ward. “We have had water since last week and on Friday, even as we speak, it’s still there,” Moyo told The Citizen Bulletin. “Some people have an agenda, and you have to understand if it is one person or the residents. Put the person on a conference call with me, because I stay in Emganwini, in the Island area, I do not stay in Montgomery as the person says.” For Khathazile Mathonsi, born in 1958, the water crisis is just another chapter in a life of hardship. Blind since childhood due to measles, Mathonsi left Zimbabwe in 2000 for South Africa, seeking a better life. For 12 years, she survived by begging on the streets of Johannesburg. Now a resident of Cowdray Park, Mathonsi’s home is filled with water containers she brought from South Africa, all filled to prepare for the city’s erratic water supply. “Over 200 people queue at the community borehole, and as a visually impaired person, accessing water is a serious challenge,” she says. The borehole is 400 meters from her house, but she often spends the day without water when her grandchildren are at school. Mathonsi is among the residents of Cowdray Park’s Hlalani Kuhle area, a community established after the central government’s 2005 Operation Murambatsvina program. The operation demolished informal housing, and residents were resettled in un-serviced stands. The suburb still lacks proper ablution facilities due to disputes between the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) and the central government. BCC argued that its bylaws prohibit the occupation of houses without proper sanitation, but the central government continued with the program. As a result, Hlalani Kuhle remains unserviced to date. In 2019, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube allocated ZW$45.2 million for water and sewer projects in Cowdray Park, but four years later, little has changed. “I’ve been suffering from diarrhea for three days now,” Mathonsi told our reporter. “I have to use the Blair toilet, but I’m weak and have soiled my blankets and clothes. My grandchildren help clean up when they return from school.” In Pumula South, residents face a different crisis: overflowing sewage. For over a year, 17 households near Athens supermarket have endured a smelly, fly-infested environment, with wastewater pooling in their yards. “We’ve reported this issue multiple times,” says Hlengiwe Mpofu, a community leader. “We’ve visited Council offices, made phone calls, and received reference numbers, but nothing has been done.” Mpofu says the lack of water makes the situation worse. “We avoid using the toilets because flushing them only leaves waste behind. The smell is unbearable, and we fear for our health.” Ward 17 Councilor Sikhululekile Moyo acknowledges the issue but blames delays on a lack of funds. “This is a known hotspot for sewage bursts. The Council is working on a resolution, but the process is delayed due to financial constraints,” she says. Disability Development Consultant Tsepang Nare says local authorities should ensure that people with disabilities are not excluded from water interventions. “In other countries, authorities keep databases of people with disabilities and the elderly to ensure they receive targeted assistance during crises,” says Nare. Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart concedes that the city lacks deliberate policies for vulnerable groups but insists efforts are being made to assist everyone. “We do all in our power to ensure that vulnerable groups are the least affected,” Coltart says. “But we face serious challenges due to low dam levels, illegal gold panning in catchment areas, and frequent power cuts.” As the water crisis deepens, countless residents are left to navigate a parched and unequal reality, with no clear solutions on the horizon. Explore more of our narrative reporting here: https://thecitizenbulletin.org/series-story/life-without-access/