Bulawayo Council Announces 10-Hour Water Shutdown Affecting 28 Suburbs

By Staff Reporter

BULAWAYO — Residents in 28 Bulawayo suburbs are facing a 10-hour water supply interruption on Friday as the city council undertakes critical repairs at Ncema Water Treatment Works.

The planned shutdown will run from 8am to 6pm on Friday, October 23, 2026, according to a public notice issued by Town Clerk Christopher Dube on Thursday.

The council said the maintenance work is intended to address critical pipe problems, reduce water losses, improve pressure and strengthen the reliability of the city's water distribution system.

The interruption will affect areas supplied by the Tuli Reservoir, with surrounding neighbourhoods also potentially experiencing disruptions.

Holiday Inn, Ascot, Khumalo, Suburbs, Parklands, Queens Park, Mahatshula, Woodville, Kingsdale, Hopeville, Killarney, Fairbridge, Lochview, Sunninghill, Riverside, Marlands, Glencoe, Waterford, Manningdale, Willsgrove, Buena Vista, Douglasdale, Fortunes Gate, Selborne Park, Matsheumhlophe, Mqabuko Heights and Imbizo Barracks.

The council warned that the affected areas' normal water-shedding schedules would temporarily change during the maintenance period.

Residents have been urged to store sufficient water for household use before the shutdown begins and to conserve available supplies throughout the interruption.

Consumers have also been advised to keep their taps closed while supplies are suspended to prevent water wastage when pumping resumes.

The council said water supplies would be restored after the repairs are completed and pumping operations restart at Ncema Water Treatment Works.

However, full restoration may take time as water moves through the Tuli pipelines and replenishes the reservoir. Residents, particularly those in high-lying areas, may experience low water pressure while the system stabilises.

The city has advised affected households to make adequate preparations for the scheduled interruption.

Make the water advisory more conciseStrengthen the opening with the shutdown details