Bulawayo City Council Approves Zinara Water Connection Despite Ban

The Bulawayo City Council approved a controversial 2.9-kilometer water pipeline connection to a Zinara tollgate. Southern Eye reported that the decision bypassed a previous municipal ban on external water connections amid severe local shortages. Municipal engineers previously blocked the project to preserve dwindling reservoir levels for Bulawayo residents. However, intense pressure from national road authorities forced local officials to reverse their stance under strict conditional terms. The core vulnerability is the severe municipal water deficit, which this decision risks exacerbating to appease national state enterprises.