When municipal tap water stops flowing, communities don’t dry up—they adapt. Across Zimbabwe’s urban communities where municipal tap water extinct due to a myriad of reasons including climate change, economic woes and management deficiencies, boreholes and water kiosks have emerged as the frontlines of resilience.
In June 2025, Bulawayo City Council ensured that 48 alternative water sources undergo sanitary inspections. The verdict? 40 were satisfactory. Residents use these sources daily. The Bulawayo City Council claims that Water from all the boreholes and water kiosks tested was satisfactory when tested for pH and turbidity. Health education was conducted targeting communities using the alternative water sources inspected. The sessions covered topics such as safe storage, handling and domestic treatment methods for drinking water.
