As Bulawayo edges into the last quarter of 2026, frustrations over water shortages, collapsing service delivery as seen in incessant sewer bursts remain at the centre of debate between residents and city council.
Interviews with the Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura) and mayor David Coltart reveal a city torn between urgent expectations and long-term recovery plans.
Bura chairman Winos Dube told Southern Eye on Sunday that residents are increasingly disillusioned by what they see as a failure to address long-standing service delivery issues.
Water shortages remain the city’s biggest crisis.
“We are very disappointed in these areas,” Dube said.
“As much as people might cite that we never had good rains, we call upon some innovativeness to be done to make sure the water crisis is addressed.”
He added that sewer bursts, especially in high-density suburbs, had become unbearable.
“People have been living under terrible sewer bursts here and there,” he said.
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“That is one area that really needs to be looked into.”
On council accountability, Dube expressed frustration over estimated bills.
“We are having heavy bills, which we have always lobbied council to revisit, but to no avail,” he complained.
“There are challenges going back to 2023 and 2024 which we had hoped would be rectified, but up to now, there has been no correction.”
Dube added that despite meetings with government officials and business stakeholders, ‘recommendations have not been adhered to’ leaving residents doubtful about change.
“It is just our hope that going into 2026 we will see some improvement,” he said.
“How, I can’t really say, but our expectation is improvement in service delivery and accountability within our council.”
However,Coltart cautioned against expecting quick fixes.
“What residents need to understand is that we have had decades of neglect, which has affected our water infrastructure, our roads, and the like,” he said.
“This is not going to be turned around overnight.
“This is a marathon, not a sprint.”
On water, Coltart highlighted the pending creation of a standalone Water Authority and progress on the long-delayed Glassblock Dam.
“We are in the final throes of negotiations regarding the water offtake purchase agreement,” he revealed.
“The African Development Bank is now involved, and I’m hoping that we can have an agreement signed within the next month or so.”
Coltart admitted that delays in mobilising nearly US$100 million for the project had stalled progress, but said once financing was secured, construction would begin.
“I need to stress that Glassblock is going to take at least two years to build, and so it’s not going to provide short-term relief to residents,” he added.
The mayor outlined phase two of the water upgrade plan, including the rehabilitation of Ncema purification works, the doubling of Tuli Reservoir, and the rehabilitation of pipelines.
These works, estimated at US$10 million, are expected to run through 2026 and 2027.
On service delivery, Coltart said there was incremental progress.
“Some residents, for example, of Pumula South have seen improved service delivery in terms of getting further houses connected,” he said, adding that website upgrades and new lifts at Tower Block signalled gradual change.
Regarding accountability, Coltart said council was “pushing for accounts to be fully audited and the outstanding audits to be brought up to date during 2026, so that residents of our city know that we have been fully audited and accountable.”
He added that new financial reporting measures would soon be implemented to enhance transparency.
