Bulawayo Sets Up Water Utility, Dismisses Privatisation Fears

By Loyd Matare

Bulawayo – The Bulawayo City Council has announced the establishment of the Bulawayo Water and Sanitation Utility, an independent but city-owned entity designed to improve water and sanitation service delivery.

Amid mounting concerns over the city’s persistent water shortages, Mayor Senator David Coltart has strongly denied allegations that the move is a step toward privatization.

Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, has battled chronic water shortages for years, with aging infrastructure, drought, and poor management compounding the crisis.

Residents have endured stringent water rationing schedules, with some suburbs going for days without a drop from their taps. The dire situation has forced many to rely on unsafe water sources, raising fears of waterborne diseases.

However, Mayor Coltart assured residents that the new utility will be “100% owned by the City of Bulawayo” and dismissed claims that it will lead to private ownership of water services.

“There has been deliberate misinformation suggesting that we are privatizing Bulawayo’s water supply. That is completely false. The City of Bulawayo remains the sole shareholder of this utility, and its creation is meant to ensure efficiency, not to sell off a public resource,” Coltart said.

According to the mayor, the new model will allow the City of Bulawayo to delegate the management, operations, and maintenance of water services to the utility, while still retaining ownership of all assets.

“The goal here is simple: to enhance management, improve service delivery, and ensure that residents receive reliable and safe water. This is not about making money, and there are no private companies or individuals involved in this process,” he emphasized.

The establishment of the water utility comes at a time when residents have expressed frustration over frequent breakdowns in water supply and the city’s failure to maintain its reservoirs and piping system. The new entity, Coltart said, will ensure that water management is “transparent, sustainable, and accountable.”

Dismissing further speculation, Coltart also refuted claims that the water utility is linked to the controversial introduction of prepaid water meters, a policy that has faced stiff resistance from residents.

“Let me be clear: the allegations that this utility is tied to prepaid water meters are completely false. This is yet another attempt to scare residents into rejecting a solution that is in their best interests,” he stated.

To ensure public participation, the city will conduct ward-based and community stakeholder meetings to provide information and gather input from residents.

“We want to clarify and correct any distortions. Our commitment is to provide affordable, efficient water services, and we are engaging with residents to ensure that this process benefits the people of Bulawayo,” Coltart said.

Despite the reassurances, the success of the new water utility will be measured by its ability to deliver where previous efforts have failed. With the water crisis deepening, the City of Bulawayo faces mounting pressure to ensure that this new entity brings real and lasting change.