BY TAPFUMA MACHAKAIRE

Any attempt to discuss the Bulawayo water crisis with residents of the city is bound to raise the ire of a people who have lost faith in those charged with the responsibility of fulfilling a fundamental human right enshrined in the Zimbabwean constitution – the right to water.
Residents have listened to distressing stories of how over a century ago, in 1912, the colonial regime mooted the idea of constructing a 450-kilometre pipeline from the Zambezi River to the city of kings, as a permanent solution to then projected water challenges.
The move was to be followed by various initiatives, notable after independence, being the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project which had so much momentum that the “wild” dream of a greenbelt in the dry Matabeleland region almost transformed into reality.
But, alas, the massive Gwai Shanagni Dam project, the key to the success of the “mighty” Zambezi Water Project has turned into a lucrative campaign bait for votes by those jostling for political positions.
The bottom line is, the people of Bulawayo are tired of “lies” about everything to do with resolving the water crisis.
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), perhaps the last stakeholder expected to come to the table to discuss efforts to resolve Bulawayo’s water woos, has done the unexpected.
Day in day out, journalists write stories on how the water challenges have affected the city, including the exit and relocation of key industries and that is as much as the media is expected to go. But ZUJ had other innovative ideas when it organized a general meeting to zero in on Bulawayo water challenges and possible solutions.
ZUJ Secretary General Perfect Hlongwane said the meeting was meant to bring journalists, residents and authorities together to share ideas on how best to deal with the elephant in the room.
“We felt its time we should ask ourselves as journalists – are we doing enough in reporting on the water crisis in Bulawayo? Are we doing it correctly?” Hlongwane said the media introspection process was designed to have active participation of residents with council authorities giving an update on the dire situation”
“Residents are angry and they use vulgar language each time we try to talk to them about this water issue,” said Thamsanqa Ndlovu, chairperson of the Residents Charter Africa initiative.
Ndlovu says the initiative was established to bring a neutral player in engaging authorities on challenges that residents of Bulawayo are facing.
“People are tired of this blame game where council accuse government of not doing enough to support the city, with government on the other hand, pointing a finger at the city fathers over the glitches. We don’t want to hear about that confusion, they should resolve their differences and ensure good service delivery to the people,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said it would be prudent for council to suspend all other development projects and exert all efforts on water and sewer management.
Engineer Siphiwe Mareya who represented the Bulawayo City Council gave the usual depressing report on the dam levels saying the six supply dams now hold just 29.5 percent water capacity with Ncema dam having already been decommissioned.
She said council has tightened water rationing and was using six water bourses to supply water to clinics and some residential areas. With the assistance of non-governmental organizations, council was rehabilitating boreholes and the city has a total of 423 functional boreholes.
One resident who identified himself as Mathonsi from Magwegwe North said he was tempted to be vulgar but respected the audience. “My issue is that I have to wake up at 1am to fetch water each time water trickles in. Why are you doing this to us?”
Media lecturer and veteran journalist, Methuseli Moyo who analyzed media performance in reporting on the Bulawayo water story, said the story has been highly politicized and journalists should look at fresh angles.
“Let’s now apply solution-based journalism where we, for instance interrogate possibilities of utilizing water from Khami dam and the issue of pre-paid water meters as an option to conserve water.”
Moyo said journalists should also apply the gender lense to the story considering that women bear the brunt of sourcing water for their families.