Beneath the busy roads and bustling markets of Bulawayo, a silent crisis spreads like roots underground. 41 pipeline leaks were reported across the City in May 2025—yet only 2 were repaired. The rest (39) continue to drain water that could nourish homes, schools, and hospitals. What’s stopping the repairs? A broken and dysfunctional system!!!
The City’s frontline workers—inspectors, technicians, engineers—know the map of this decay. But they’re fighting without the tools. The City has blamed crippling mobility challenges and paralyzing procurement bottlenecks for its teams.
The city was currently grappling with significant challenges related to pipeline maintenance and leak management. These issues stemmed primarily from these critical factors the lack of operational vehicles for pipeline inspectors and delays in material procurement and resource mobilization. The Department was working on resource mobilization to attend to the highlighted areas and ensure improved water supplies to the City.
(reads the latest Council Minutes of 02 July 2025)
Non-revenue water is one of the major threats to water security globally, and Bulawayo needs to urgently attend to all the leaks in order to control the already spiralling non-revenue water loss which is at an alarming 47%. Water experts, such as the Water Integrity Network, have developed compelling tools to deal with integrity issues in nonrevenue water losses.
As Voices for Water, we urgently Call to the Attention of all responsible authorities to quickly act towards repairing everything that is broken – both in the pipes and the systems. Specifically, we Call to the Attention of:
- Bulawayo City Council to marshal all available resources to expedite the response rate to attend to reported leaks because every leak unattended is a voice unheard.
- Bulawayo Members of Parliament to exercise their law making and executive oversight mandate by demanding the speedy implementation of devolution of power in Zimbabwe.
- Bulawayo residents and stakeholders to maintain vigilance and report all water leaks in the City and follow-up with Council when the reported leaks are not attended to.
