By Takudziridzwa Nyama
The Bulawayo City Council has issued a warning about ongoing water shortages following the decommissioning of the Upper Ncema Dam, effective October 3, 2024.
This decision comes in response to critically low water levels exacerbated by an ongoing drought.
In a statement, the council highlighted that the decommissioning of Upper Ncema follows the earlier closure of the Umzingwane Dam in November 2023.
“As of October 2, 2024, dam levels in the city were alarmingly low, with Insiza at 40.33%, Inyankuni at 18.07%, Lower Ncema at 21.46%, and Umzingwane at a mere 2.14% (now decommissioned).” it reads
The Upper Ncema Dam itself was recorded at just 2.03% capacity before its decommissioning, indicating a severe water crisis.
The early closure of Upper Ncema Dam is attributed to the ongoing drought conditions, which prompted the opening of dam gates on August 28, 2024, leading to its non-operational status.
The situation has been further aggravated by El Niño-induced drought, which has resulted in significantly low rainfall across the region, causing a drastic reduction in inflows to Bulawayo’s six supply dams.
Residents are now urged to take immediate action to conserve water, as the decommissioning of the Upper Ncema Dam is expected to worsen the city’s already precarious water supply challenges.
The Bulawayo City Council is exploring various measures to address the crisis, including potential access to suburban aquifers, but immediate conservation efforts from the community are crucial.