BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe — The Bulawayo water shortage has reached a critical juncture, leaving more than a million residents in Zimbabwe’s second-largest city grappling with severe supply deficits. Driven by years of poor rainfall and the looming threat of El Niño, the crisis underscores a century-long struggle for reliable access to this essential resource, turning every drop into a matter of daily survival for the growing population.
The city’s water crisis is not a new phenomenon; in fact, the water situation in Bulawayo was described as “precarious” as far back as 1910, and that same description applies in 2026. For more than a century, the city has endured recurring shortages. Currently, the city’s supply dams hold below 70% of their combined capacity, with usable water dropping to less than 50%.
City water officials note that the region’s droughts have severely disrupted historical filling cycles. Even if all dams were to fill on a yearly basis, they could adequately supply the city. However, due to persistent droughts, dams typically only reach 40% to 50% capacity at the end of the rainy season. Umzingwane Dam, one of Bulawayo’s key buffer dams, is currently just 35% full and last reached full capacity in 2017. It is now rare for the city to see its dams reach 100% capacity in any given season.
Beyond dwindling water levels, the crisis is compounded by aging infrastructure. The city’s main water treatment plant, which dates back to the colonial era, is adding immense strain to the system. In response, the city is already operating under strict water rationing and demand management measures.
City officials express deep concern over the forecasted dry spell, noting that the lack of a good rainy season in the previous year has left reservoir levels dangerously low. “We are dreading El Niño because our levels are a bit low,” city representatives stated, emphasizing that authorities are trying to conserve and ration as much as possible to ensure the water lasts for the longest period.
Despite the grim local outlook, central government spokespersons insist there is no need for panic, maintaining that mitigation measures are already in place. The central government noted that there have been about eight or nine strong El Niño events since 1980, and fortunately, strong El Niño years have not always correlated with severe droughts.
However, authorities are “planning for the worst and hoping for the best.” Central government representatives highlighted that El Niño will be associated with elevated temperatures, leading to very high evapotranspiration rates. To combat the emerging crisis, the government has developed a comprehensive “six-pillar strategy.”
The spokespersons also drew comparisons to neighboring nations, noting that while countries like Tanzania and Kenya are currently preparing for floods, Zimbabwe is preparing for the opposite conditions.
With the population continuing to grow and place more pressure on dwindling supplies, the narrative has shifted. For the residents of Bulawayo, the question is no longer about when the rains will finally come, but rather how long the available water will actually last.
