HARARE - The much-awaited Mtshabezi Dam water is finally coming to the city of Bulawayo in a move likely to bolster water supply, a Cabinet minister has said.

This comes at a time when the project, which has been under construction for years, has missed several deadlines.

“I am happy to say that finally water has reached Bulawayo,” minister of Water Resources Management Samuel Sipepa Nkomo told a news conference in Bulawayo.

Nkomo said the engineers were finally able to release water into the Lower Ncema Dam.

“As of today we were able to address the issue of leaks. The engineers have also released water into Lower Ncema,” an upbeat Nkomo said.

Assistant director of Engineering in the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) Ian Mthunzi said: “I was there and I saw it with my own eyes. It is a great day for Bulawayo and we are very grateful.”

Erratic power supply at the pump station had put the project in limbo, but has since been resolved, according to Nkomo.   

“We are using synchronised generators and they are working as I speak. To bolster power supply, poles and wiring for electricity have already reached the pump house,” he said.

However, Nkomo said Mtshabezi water was not going to significantly reduce the water shedding which was increased last to 96 hours per week.

“The reduction of water shedding is up to BCC. But we are hoping that water from Mtshabezi will reduce the water rationing,” Nkomo said.

Bulawayo residents have been subjected to 96 hours of water shedding every week which has caused many to go for days without water, while fears of disease outbreak grips the city.

But with Mtshabezi water coming to the “City of Kings”, Bulawayo residents are hopeful that water problems will be a thing of the past. - Nyasha Chingono