US$5 million project ends Victoria Falls water woes

 Government yesterday commissioned a US$5 million water reservoir project and two refuse collection trucks in Victoria Falls, ending years of water shortages that have plagued the resort city’s Mkhosana suburb.

The project, delivered by the City of Victoria Falls using internal resources, comprises a 5-megalitres ground reservoir and a 750-kilolitre elevated tank, alongside 12 kilometres of new pipelines, upgraded pump stations at Aerodrome, and new fire hydrants.

Officiating at the commissioning event, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, said the upgraded infrastructure would guarantee reliable water access for 25 000 residents.

“These reservoirs will ensure improved reliability and sustainable access to safe water for an estimated population of about 25 000 residents who, for long, had endured persistent water shortages due to inadequate storage capacity and rapid population growth,” said the minister.

The reservoirs form the first phase of the city’s broader US$18 million multi-phase Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme.

The shift to a gravity-fed system means consistent water pressure across Mkhosana, ending the distress of direct pumping systems that failed during power outages. Residents who spoke to Zimpapers confirmed the transformation.

“For years, we woke up before dawn to fetch water. Now the taps run day and night. It feels like we are finally living in a real city,” said Mrs Nomsa Ndlovu from Mkhosana.
Another resident, Mr Tendai Sibanda, said the project had brought dignity back to the community.

“We used to go for days without water. You could not plan your day. Now we have an adequate supply, and we are grateful to the council and Government for listening to our cries,” he said.

Minister Garwe said the investment aligns with the National Development Strategy (NDS2) and President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 of an empowered upper-middle-income economy.

“It’s our desire that all local authorities across the country emulate such efforts. I want to assert that Victoria Falls yakhiwa ngabahlali bayo,” he said.

Alongside the water infrastructure, the city commissioned two refuse trucks, a 15-cubic-metre unit procured by council and an 18-cubic-metre unit donated by African Sun Limited as part of its corporate social responsibility.

“This gesture is a shining example of the sound partnerships that can be forged between local authorities and the private sector for the benefit of our communities,” Minister Garwe said.

Victoria Falls Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said the project had catapulted the city above national minimum service delivery standards.

“We have achieved 100 percent water coverage, which is above the 2026 target of 90 percent. For too long, the residents of our beloved city, particularly here in Mkhosana, have endured the heavy burden of water scarcity. Today, we turn that page,” said Mr Dube.

He said the city had also partnered with Eagle Heights, whose purchase of a stand directly funded the reservoirs.

The reservoirs now serve 3,696 households in Mkhosana, with capacity to support future growth as the tourism hub continues to expand.

Council has indicated it requires timely devolution fund support to sustain momentum on remaining projects, including road tarring, storm drains, and construction of Mosi 2 High School.

Source: US$5 million project ends Victoria Falls water woes (07/05/2026)

Victoria Falls WASH Project 97 percent complete, promising 24-hour water supply

 THE Victoria Falls City Council has announced that the first phase of its Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programme is now 97 percent complete, a significant stride towards resolving water challenges particularly in the high density suburbs.

The US$4.8 million project, which began in June 2023, is set to transform water delivery in the resort city, ensuring a consistent supply for residents.

The initiative is a critical part of a broader US$15 million effort aimed at expanding and modernising the city’s WASH infrastructure.

The council has expressed confidence that the upgrades align with the Government’s expectations for improved urban service delivery.

In an interview with Zimpapers, Victoria Falls Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube, confirmed the project’s impressive progress and its imminent benefits.

“With the reservoir, we have done so well now, we are on schedule. The completion is about 97 percent complete. All the major works have been done, the pumps have been installed. The other ancillary work related to water reservoirs, they are complete,” said Mr Dube.

He said key milestones, include the successful testing of a reconfigured 12-kilometre pipeline.

Source: Victoria Falls WASH Project 97 percent complete, promising 24-hour water supply (25/09/2025)

Victoria Falls US$4m reservoir nears completion

The project was launched in June last year as part of a grander US$18m Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) undertaking developed to permanently end water problems in the resort city.

It is aimed at improving the standard of living for residents by supplying reliable clean and safe water for longer periods and increasing water pressure levels.

Victoria Falls Town Clerk, Mr Ronnie Dube, said it would be ready by June 30.

“It is not the reservoir that people should look at, the project is massive. We have done 11km out of 13km of pipework as we are upgrading the pump station to put in a new one and deal with the issue of water pressure.

“The final figure is US$4,5 million, which we raised on our own and we are confident we will complete the project,” he said.

On site, there is massive construction taking place with structures nearing completion. The project is expected to improve water supplies in line with aspirations of the Second Republic implemented through the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) towards Vision 2030.

According to the city engineer, Mrs Sherinah Sibanda, the scope of the project includes upgrading of Aerodrome pump station and pumping lines, construction of a new five mega litres ground tank and 0,75 mega litres elevated tank to allow for pumping by gravity and strengthening of weak zones characterised by construction of 13km of new pipelines.

Over 40 percent of properties in Mkhosana and other high lying areas are not getting water consistently.

The completion of the project will result in over 98 percent of residents getting reliable water supply.

Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Richard Moyo, praised the scheme and said it was a demonstration of several Governmental efforts to meet Zimbabweans’ fundamental human right to clean water and improve their livelihoods by 2030.

The rapid growth of the city in terms of properties, hotels and population has put pressure on water supply, sewerage services, solid waste, roads and drainage.

Source: Victoria Falls US$4m reservoir nears completion (29/03/24)

Repairs solve water crisis in Victoria Falls

VICTORIA Falls City residents are now enjoying uninterrupted water supplies following the completion of the maintenance work at the city’s pump station resulting in 900 cubic metres being pumped per hour.

Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said water being pumped is enough to supply all residents. Residents in the resort city have in the past few weeks been going for days without water as Victoria Falls City Council struggled to repair a burst pipe at its main pump station where more than 60 percent of water was being lost before distribution.

The local authority had resorted to using bowsers to supply residents in the wake of the biting water crisis. The Government granted Victoria Falls City Council autonomy to manage its own water reticulation a few years ago.

In the past, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) used to manage the city’s water reticulation. The council is pumping water from the Zambezi River using an ageing pumping system.

Mr Dube said the situation had improved significantly following the completion of repair work.

“The problem was at the source where we get water from the river and piping from the abstraction point to the waterworks. Our old infrastructure was giving us problems and we had to change now we are pumping using two pumps with a combined capacity of 900 cubic metres per hour,” he said.

“We are now supplying at a maximum and it is enough to cover consumption even the areas where we have not had water for a long time are now covered.”

The city council is making efforts to upgrade the water system through the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) programme that also involves upgrading sewer services.

A few months ago council launched a US$4 million wash programme where two mega reservoirs are being constructed in Mkhosana to improve storage and distribution.

The city had also budgeted more than US$1 million for the upgrade of the water abstraction plant where a new plant is supposed to be put to permanently address the water crisis.

The project was mooted several years ago and the local authority rehabilitated most of its infrastructure in 2012 in preparation for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation when it was realised that Wash infrastructure needed upgrading.

The rapid growth of the city in terms of the number of properties and hotels put pressure on water supply, sewerage services, solid waste, roads and drainage.

It caused limited pumping of water, underperformance of water treatment plant due to ageing, water leakage, and low pumping capacity, which resulted in erratic pumping and distribution.

The city pumps adequate water from the abstraction point at the Zambezi River, but the biggest challenge is the distribution of water due to the lack of reservoirs, especially in high-lying areas like Mkhosana.

Mr Dube urged residents to use water sparingly, saying it is expensive to pump and purify water on a daily basis.

Source: Repairs solve water crisis in Victoria FallsRepairs solve water crisis in Victoria Falls (08/10/23)

Victoria Falls builds reservoirs to solve water problems

 PERENNIAL water woes bedevilling Victoria Falls City are set to be a thing of the past as council has started preliminary work towards construction of two reservoirs, all along the missing link, in Mkhosana.

For the first time the city will also have prepaid water meters in response to residents’ concerns about fixed and estimated readings, while households will have duplicated raw water pipes specifically for use in gardens once the massive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash) project being spearheaded by the council is completed.

The local authority requires close to US$15 million for the Wash project which will result in an overhaul of the whole water and sewer system and has been courting investors without success.

The council recently disposed of some land to raise money for water projects after resolving to go it alone using its own resources starting with priority areas until the whole Wash project is completed.

The resort city’s residents especially in Mkhosana suburb endure endless water cuts because of lack of capacity by the local authority to distribute it to all houses.

While significant water is pumped from the abstraction point at the Zambezi River, the biggest challenge has been distribution of water because of lack of storage tanks especially for high lying areas like Mkhosana.

As a result, a power cut immediately cuts off water supplies in Mkhosana.

This, coupled with ageing pumping equipment has been causing perennial water challenges to the tourism destination which was conferred city status in 2019.

The local authority officials have also expressed concern about residents who waste treated water on gardens.

Victoria Falls’ Kalahari sands require lots of water and residents, hotels and lodges and businesses mostly use treated drinking water to water their gardens on a daily basis, reducing volumes that should be used for domestic consumption.

In an interview yesterday, Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube said the tendering process had started and actual construction work is likely to start in November.

“The council is working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to address the water issue. Our problem starts with abstraction and we are going to deepen the channel at the catchment area and put new pipes which will be in sync with pumps at the water works.

“But the elephant in the house is distribution especially in Mkhosana which goes for days without water. So, the plan is to construct a 5 cubic metre ground tank and a 750 cubic metre elevated tank.

Consultants are already working on tender documents and fortunately the council now has the money for this project because we disposed some of our properties specifically for this,” said Mr Dube.

The council sold stands 8300 south of Mkhosana and 1811 along Wood Road, part of the money which is being used for construction of reservoirs.

An elevated site has been identified for the project in Mkhosana while the holding tank will also have a booster pump to augment gravitational pumping.

Government early this year allowed Victoria Falls City Council to take over water management from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority as the council indicated that it had capacity to manage its own water pumping, purification and distribution.

Mr Dube said the Wash project will be implemented in stages starting with areas that give value and benefits to residents.

Source:  Victoria Falls builds reservoirs to solve water problems (15/09/2022)

Vic Falls requires US$14m for water, sewer upgrade

 BY PATRICIA SIBANDA

THE Victoria Falls municipality has proposed a US$14 million budget to upgrade its water and sewer reticulation systems.

Mayor Somvelo Dlamini told Southern Eye that council had already met government officials to discuss the proposed water and sewer reticulation project.

“Earlier on we set out a budget estimate of about US$14 million for replacement of the water and sewer system, which was commissioned way back in 1972. Currently we are working on funds to kick-start the water and sanitation project,” Dlamini said.

A piece of land has been set aside for the project as council sources for funds to kickstart the project before year end.

“We have invited bids and the tender process is still ongoing. But as soon as we get the funds before the end of year, we will begin the project,” he said.

A few weeks ago, Dlamini said  Victoria Falls water infrastructure needed a complete overhaul.

Dlamini said the city had grown over the years and many new developments were taking place resulting in water and sewer infrastructure failing to cope.

Source: Vic Falls requires US$14m for water, sewer upgrade (15/06/22)

Vic Falls Residents Forced To Use Bush Toilet As Water Shortages Rock Town

 VICTORIA FALLS: The tourism town of Victoria Falls is facing an unprecedented water crisis that has seen residents in parts of Mkhosana going for a fortnight without the precious liquid.

The worst affected dwellers are those in Mfelandawonye, BD847, BD848, and BD46 sections which have not had water in their taps for more than two weeks.

What characterises most households now are an offensive strong stink of poo as there is no water to flush toilets posing a huge health time bomb to a town that is set to be granted city status.

Some residents have resorted to using the bush to relieve themselves with open defecation now rife.

The municipality has restored to supply the residents with water bowsers and long winding queues of thirsty residents jostling to fill their buckets as they endure the hot weather without water.

Residents are pressuring the residents’ association to stage a demonstration against the local council and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) which pumps bulk water to the municipality.

The residents believe there is a lack of commitment from the council and ZINWA as the water shortages have become a perennial challenge.

Every year between September and December, the resort town’s residents have to endure the hot weather with no water.

Unlike other towns, there are no boreholes in Victoria Falls because of the Kalahari soils and depth of water table.

“The situation is dire. Some areas have not had water for two weeks and you can imagine how people are surviving. Having to hunt for water each morning. This is happening when hotels are closed and where demand is low. Imagine if the whole industry was open, we would have had waterborne diseases. People are now using the bush to relieve themselves and we fear disease outbreak,” said one resident.

Victoria Falls Combined Residents Association chairperson, Kelvin Moyo called for calm saying engagement with the authorities was underway.

“Our town is faced with an unprecedented water crisis that has affected both residents and business. Residents are agitated and want to demonstrate. We are aware of the urgency this matter requires and as such we will be convening a tripartite meeting with ZINWA and council management. The situation needs to be attended to with a sober mind in order to resolve the perennial challenge,” said Moyo.

Source: Vic Falls Residents Forced To Use Bush Toilet As Water Shortages Rock Town (4/11/20)