Bulawayo water crisis on hibernation

Working up in the morning and enjoying a bath in a running shower is such a luxury in a city harassed by some water crisis. For a moment, maUSA nemaUBA are able to bath every day. Enough respect to ZITF

So why do they deprive us this water if they know that its important?

If the water is not there why don't they make efforts to make it available?

in their homes do they rely on backet systems?

Have our city fathers got into town without bathing because of unavailability of water?

Do they know how it feels to spend days without changing your clothes?

Basically, when was the last time they used bush toilet?

Have they entered into a public toilet when there is no water in town?

So at the end of the day, do i really need to celebrate for this temporary water availability?...Well, I don't know. What I know is that water is plenty this days because the city of Bulawayo is hosting ZITF

Power cuts on a 'pause', thanx to ZITF

For a moment, as a university student i'm able to use electricity whatever time i want without disturbances and disruptions from the ZESA guys. Credits to ZITF.

Under normal days, it is a usual norm to work up only to find that they have just switched off the power again.

Studying would be hard because with a hungry belly, brains wont function well since they need lots of energy.

Studying in the evening is usually disturbed ; ZESA guys have no mercy, to them its normal to give people a black out.

This week, it is however different, we are enjoying our rare resource to the fullest because there in no a single day of the week that we miss it. How I wish ZITF would be done every week of the month.

My question NOW is, 'If they can manage to give us electricity everyday of the week, what exactly is it that fails them in other weeks to come?'

Forgive me if this is a ridiculous question but somewhere in that question there is a meaning.

My worry now is based on the fact that next week we might have to appreciate the darkness if those guys decide to play a revenge game.

It is typical of them to treat this as a debt which needs to be paid back. To them, it is taboo for electricity to be available 24 hours a day.

I just hope there is no black out next week.

Bulawayo City Council to continue with its water rationing regime

THE Bulawayo City Council has put in place no measures to ease its water rationing regime despite the fact that the rain season came and go.

Bulawayo residents are getting used to a four-day (in some cases three day) a week water rationing schedule and this is continuing into yet another dry season.

With a permanent solution to the water crisis - a US$1,2 billion Chinese-sponsored pipeline from the Zambezi - still two years away from completion, Bulawayo authorities are asking residents to brace for tough times.

City bosses say all five dams are located in the Umzingwane Catchment area which was so far seen sporadic rainfall since the onset of the rain season last September.

In comparison, water sources in the northern parts of the country have seen a steady rise in water levels, with Lake Kariba said to be 64 percent full

Grass roots or grassy roads?

In as much as we are thriving to promote inclusive development at grass roots levels, i think we are ending up loosing our little possessions to thieves and robbers due to grassy roads that the city council is failing to clear.

Its been a while ever since we received heavy rains in Bulawayo;  the weather is characterized by sunny days and heat waves but no one from the city council has bothered lifting his/her head to see how green our roads are.

Our roads now look better than farms. If they had cleared them two months ago, i'm sure with this dry moment, they would be still clear by now.

Are they waiting for the grass to dry up naturally? Do they need to wait up until June comes and freeze up the grass.

These bushy roads are quickly becoming a nest that accommodates robbers who wait patiently for us to unwillingly give them our small possessions that we intend to use for the construction of our future.

I'm writing this because as one of the students who learn at a university that fails to provide accommodation for the majority of students, the pain is on me too.

We study till late but it has become a challenge when its time to go to the rented places we call home. The roads have turned into forests and at times we actually forget that we are in an urban area.

How many liters of diesel do their tractors need to cut off the grass? How much do they need to buy manual slashers? How much again do they need to pay those who are willing to take up the jobs? I'm sure that's not too expensive for our rich city council.

Lets promote our communities through grass roots initiatives rather than killing them through grassy roads incentives.

Bulawayo water crisis hits NUST students

NUST students who rent in surrounding suburbs have been thirsty ever since the beginning of 2012 dry season, a challenge especially with them staying in large numbers.

Water rationing scheme implemented by the city fathers is like a stub on a soft skin considering the fact that at times taps only drop' tears' when students are at school.

To make matters worse  these students are staying in large numbers and when water comes in the morning, it can cut before they finish bathing. The same applies when they try to load up containers for storage; only the early birds catch the biggest grains.

Lest we forget the wash day blues when the water may just decide to quit while someone's clothes are still soaked. This has led a lot of students to repeat the same clothes over and over again; not so good for a varsity student considering the high temperatures in Bulawayo.

To stay fresh and comfortable under these high temperatures, one needs to bath at least three times a day but this is highly impractical for them considering the crisis. If someone manage to bath at least once a day (not to forget those who struggle to bath at least once in two days) and spare some water for cooking then he/she is safe.

If only they where not staying in 'bulk' then it was going to be better because a small family can manage to give its members a chance to use the precious resource.

Kombies to NUST a "life hazard"

Commuter omnibus operators on the NUST-Town route seem to be highly ignorant of the safety of their valued clients.

The kombies they provide are too old for the road and are no-longer in their original condition. Only a few loads fuel in the actual fuel tanks as most of them now operate from the 2 liter and 5 liter containers hanging outside the engine.

Most of them are now operating on jump start and this is a risk to NUST students who rely on these kombies for daily transport.

Just a day ago, one of these kombies caught fire and it was burnt to ashes serve for the frames of the body. Passengers had to fly out with their lives through the windows after they realised the are in a life threatening situation.

Almost all of these combies have oil leakages and some don't even have windows. Surprisingly, they are driven at a reckless speed and we wonder if they are driven by rational people.

To make matters worse, some of these drivers will be drunk and they don't care what happens to who because of their behaviour.

SRC, should do something about this because i'm sure they have such powers.

In pictures

Now useless, after the fire killed the business

Owners inspecting the vehicle in the morning

The helpless vehicle burning down

Almost everything now in ashes

Fire rising in the speed of light

Thugs continue terrorising us. Where are the C.O.Ps?

Thugs continue terrorising NUST students in Riverside Selborne park and Matshemhlope,places that used to be flooded by police on patrol.

On Sunday evening, another girl was attacked and nearly raped just close to her place's gate.

In Matshemhlope, a 'girls only' rented place was recently raided for the second time with robbers getting away with phones,laptops, clothes,and cash.

Last Semester, another one was raped in Selborn Park on her way home.

In Kilarney, a guy was sodomised by four thugs after robing him of his laptop.

Two people  lost their laptops to thugs right in front of NUST's gate showing that those rascals are so daring.

In Selborne park again, a girl escaped and a male friend was stabbed by a knife,fortunately not to death. They   both lost their laptops.

Another girl sustained knife injuries on her buttocks when the thugs caught up with her as she dropped off at the bus stop. Does it mean that all these stories and many others have not reached the ears of the police?

These incidences don't take place at odd hours, but during the time when students are coming from school. Avoiding walking around those times would compromise students academically. We cant afford to do that, can we?.

The neighborhood is too dark, street lights are never repaired...I wonder why they ever installed them initially.

Something must be done.