The Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints donated ten boreholes to the Bulawayo City Council (BCC), a move which is expected to go a long way in alleviating water shortages currently gripping the city.

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony in Nkulumane last Wednesday, the church’s country director of charities, John Benich, said the boreholes had been established in Pumula South, Pumula East, Old Pumula, Magwegwe, Nkulumane, Thorngrove, Emakhandeni and Luveve high-density surbubs. “The church all over the world gathered offerings which have contributed to the establishment of these boreholes.”  

Bulawayo Mayor Thaba Moyo thanked the donors, commonly known as the Mormon church, for their generous gesture and called upon other religious organizations to emulate this move and assist the cash-strapped local authority in provision of adequate services to residents. “It is pleasing to note that some organizations, such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are committed to helping the city of Bulawayo in improving service delivery, particularly in the provision of water.”

Mayor Moyo also urged residents to be good stewards of the boreholes and make sure they were not vandalized, adding that the council would take a tough stance on those responsible for vandalizing the property. The donation comes at a time when the city is experiencing water shortages after a dry spell which left the city’s supply dams
with very low water levels. 

Minister of Water Resources, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo declared the Bulawayo water situation critical last month.

The BCC also announced last month that it would begin water rationing while awaiting the construction of the Mtshabezi-Mzingwane pipeline in three months time.