Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – Water levels at most dams in Bulawayo have improved, although they remain below full capacity despite the incessant rains being received across the country this rainy season.
As of January 15, 2026, the city’s combined dam levels stood at 43 percent, up from 38 percent at the start of the 2025/26 rainy season with Mutshabezi dam recording the highest inflows, gaining 17 percent since the onset of the rains and reaching 95 percent capacity.
During the same period last year, Bulawayo’s dam levels were at 30 percent before gradually rising to about 50 percent by the end of the rainy season in March.
The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) said the water situation is expected to further improve if the rains continue until the end of the rainy season in March.
In response to the improved inflows, the local authority has adjusted its water restoration program, reducing weekly water shedding from 130 hours to 96 hours.
The 130-hour shedding schedule was introduced in October 2024 when dam levels were critically low.
“The city is poised to have an improved water supply situation this year. The City exercised caution by sustaining the 130-hour weekly shedding, ensuring that at the start of the 2025/26 rainy season dam levels were at 38 percent,” it said.
According to the January Council Agenda, acting director of Water and Sanitation, Engineer Kwanele Sibanda, presented the revised water restoration timetable to the Future Water Supplies and Water Action Committee in December 2025, which stated that assessments and trial runs had shown that the city could sustainably operate under the 96-hour weekly water shedding program.
“The City of Bulawayo’s water supply situation has significantly improved, and the system has been operating without technical difficulties. Pumping activities have remained consistent, allowing Criterion Reservoir to maintain stable levels, which has strengthened the entire distribution network, including high-lying areas,” she said.
Despite the improvements, the city continues to enforce water rationing with eastern suburbs allocated 450 litres per household per day, while western areas receive 350 litres per household per day.
The city is urging residents and stakeholders to continue using water sparingly, warning that the provisional supply schedule may change without notice in the event of emergencies or operational challenges, as efforts to stabilise the water system continue.
New Ziana
