Bulawayo Cries Out for $14.5 Million to Fix Failing Water System

24 October 2025

By Khulisani Siziba

Bulawayo’s water crisis has reached a breaking point, and the city says it urgently needs US$14.5 million to repair and modernise its ageing water infrastructure.

After years of dry taps and rationing, Mayor David Coltart says the city’s water system is now losing nearly half of its treated water through leaks and burst pipes.

Speaking at the Matabeleland Water Indaba yesterday, Mayor Coltart revealed that Bulawayo’s supply dams have not filled up since 2017, the last time a tropical cyclone brought significant inflows. He warned that without major upgrades, the city’s reserves will remain under severe pressure.

The funding will go toward replacing old water mains, fixing broken pumps, repairing more than 1,000 faulty meters, and cutting down the city’s 46 percent water loss rate.

In the medium term, plans are in motion for a privately-led Glass Block–Bopoma Dam, while the Gwayi–Tshangani Dam remains the government’s long-term solution.

Coltart stressed that only serious investment and collective action will secure Bulawayo’s water future.