THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) should engage the government to rehabilitate Nyamandlovu aquifer and beef up security.
The aquifer is facing increased cases of vandalism.
The Nyamandlovu aquifer in Matabeleland North province is a source of water for Bulawayo.
The city has six supply dams located in Matabeleland South.
Ward 25 councillor Nkosinathi Aleck Ndlovu said they were made to understand that Nyamandlovu aquifer has been facing various challenges including vandalism.
He said council should partner government in beefing up security and capacitation of boreholes at the aquifer.
“Clearly, we have been very uncertain to receive any water in our dams and we need to find a way to rehabilitate Nyamandlovu aquifer so that there is continued availability of water,” Ndlovu said.
His sentiments were echoed by ward 22 councillor Bruce Mmeli Moyo, who said the city was facing a crisis that needed urgent attention.
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“We know that the government’s programme has been systematically targeting Gwayi-Shangani, but we have expressed concern over the project taking a long time to complete since it started in 1957,” he said.
“We call on the government to take these issues seriously and to be actively involved in the rehabilitation of boreholes and making sure that there is enough security at the aquifer to avoid cases of vandalism.”
Moyo urged villagers to stop vandalising the aquifer, adding that the community, civic society organisations and other stakeholders should actively take part in resolving the crisis.
BCC recently called on government to declare the city a water crisis area as residents endure long periods without the precious liquid.
The city is running under a 120-hour water schedule.
