Zimbabwe residents decry supply of dirty water

Residents of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city, have complained about dirty water coming from the taps, after days without any at all. 

Bulawayo city council had been carrying out repairs to the water mains this week and so shut down the supply for several days. After completing repairs, the council switched the taps back on but are now concerned by the dirty water that is coming out. 

According to Zimbabwean media, Bulawayo has been suffering from persistent water shortages, imposing 96-hour dry periods for residents since late November.

Council spokesperson Nesisa Mpofu told Reuters that the prologued drought had dried up some of the dams supplying water to the city. Two have already been decommissioned. 

The drought has also affected power and food production in Zimbabwe. The country’s agriculture minister announced on Wednesday that Zimbabwe only has a month’s worth of grain left in reserves.

Photo credit: Twitter | Robyn Lee Kriel