Martin Muleya
City of Mutare has issued warning to its residents that the perennial Pungwe River which supplies 56% of water to the eastern border town is drying up at an alarming rate due to the El Nino induced drought.
The river which is the lifeline for the city’s over 260 000 residents, has been steadily going drying up over the past years and now the water levels have reached a critical point. The city’s water supply is now under severe threat and residents may face the dreaded possibility of water rationing and having dry taps for prolonged periods.
Addressing stakeholders who attended the Climate Resilient Water Supply and Sanitation Safety Plan workshop at a local hotel this week, Deputy Director- Water and Sanitation Engineer Mercy Ncube highlighted that Pungwe River was supposed to be a perennial river because it is a shared water cost between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
However the local authority has a certain percentage they are supposed to abstract from the river that is contributing fifty six percent of the city’s water supply.
“Pungwe river is supposed to be a perennial river because it is a shared water cost between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. However, we have a certain percentage we are supposed to abstract which is 700 litres per second from Pungwe which is contributing about fifty six percent of the total water supply coming into the city.
“The levels have actually gone low mainly because of the El Nino effects. We have not had some good rains for the past two years so hence the depletion of the water source,” explained Ncube.
Eng. Ncube reiterated that as part of mitigation measures the local authority was exploring alternative water sources including boreholes and water recycling to mitigate the crisis.
“The city is looking at addressing the challenge of water which is the use of boreholes where we are mapping and trying to find the capacity. Council is training and making awareness campaigns on water conservation. We also get water from Lake Alexander but of course the dam levels are around fifty percent. We are hoping the best because we are told the El Nino effect might end this season then have Lanina effects (abundant rains) we should be able to recover from the current issues we have. But we are hoping for the best in terms of climate change,” added Ncube.
Acting City of Mutare Town Clerk Blessing Chafesuka who was represented by Acting Finance Director Reuben Guni also weighed in saying the climate change phenomenon had decreased the rate at which the local authority was supplying water to its more than 260 000 residents in the city.
“Water is THE lifeblood of our communities but with the increased impact of climate change this precious resource is becoming scarce, with our infrastructure becoming vulnerable in the wake of cyclones and storms caused by climate change. Our responsibility is not only to provide water but also ensuring that our systems are resilient enough to withstand these emergency challenges.
“As a local authority we endeavor to build a climate resilient water supply to secure the future of water supply to our residents. One of the primary strategies that Council is pursuing is upgrading and diversifying water infrastructure. This includes construction of additional reservoirs and water storage facilities which will help us store more water during times of abundance and draw it during periods of scarcity,” said Chafesuka.
City of Mutare’s proposed Climate Resilient Water Supply and Sanitation Safety Plan for the period 2025-2075 is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of climate change and the urgent need for sustainable need for water management practices.
