Bulawayo Agenda organises crucial Matabeleland Water Conference

By Tererai Karimakwenda
23 January 2006

As the most arid region in the country Matabeleland province has suffered from water shortages for as long as many Zimbabweans can remember and nothing has been done. The situation continues to deteriorate and some areas of Bulawayo have now gone without water for 6 months. The NGO Bulawayo Agenda say enough is enough. They have organised an all-stakeholders water conference this coming weekend, and invited the City Council, civic society, The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), the Bulawayo Residents Association (BURA), the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Trust and The Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project. Bulawayo Agenda director Gordon Moyo told us this is a very serious matter that lies at the heart of basic human rights and they hope to get commitments from all responsible parties as to the way forward.

Moyo said the Bulawayo areas of Entumbane, Magwegwe and Cowdry Park have had no running water for 6 months now and this cannot be allowed. He said every time there are elections, the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, headed by Dumiso Dabengwa, makes promises to rejuvenate activities and resolve the water crisis. But nothing ever happens after the elections. Moyo said they decided to have this conference now when there are no elections and they have decent rainfall. He said this will bring about real debate about the issues and give the public a chance to grill those responsible. Bulawayo governor Cain Mathema has also been invited. Moyo said: “We don’t want cheap electioneering or politicking, just real practical solutions.”

To illustrate how much the water crisis in Matabeleland has been ignored Moyo explained that The Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project was conceived back in 1912 and to this day no real progress has been made. He believes the government has not been committed, and this violates the rights of those people who have gone without water for extended periods. He said: “This is so serious it goes all the way up to the United Nations level and the African Union level”.

An activist once walked from Victoria Falls to Harare with a wheelbarrow to bring attention to Matabeleland’s water problems, and it is hoped some resolutions will be made as well as commitments that will bring results. Moyo said the response from government officials has been positive so far. It remains to be seen whether they will actually show up and participate in a meaningful way at the conference, then take the resolutions and implement policies that will bring tangible results to the residents of Matabeleland.