By A Correspondent- Bulawayo residents have expressed fears over the possibility of a cholera outbreak with the city going for more than 8 days without water.

The council shut down its Criterion water treatment plant for refurbishment last week and residential areas have largely been dry since then.

Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) acting co-ordinator Emmanuel Ndlovu called for the powers that be to declare a State of Emergency in the city.

He said:

Bulawayo is, therefore, in the utmost danger of cholera and typhoid outbreak. This reflects poor planning and management of water resources by BCC.

Given the continued failure to finalise the project and scanty information from BCC and the failure by BCC to provide Plan B, BPRA is calling for a shutdown of schools until the situation returns to normalcy.

BPRA is further calling for heads to roll in council and for relevant powers to declare the State of Emergency in Bulawayo.

Meanwhile, Bulawayo mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni has apologised to residents and stakeholders over the water situation.

He said:

The rehabilitation of water treatment and pumping infrastructure under the African Development Bank’s BSWIP grant continues.

There are times when we must take the pain to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of water delivery to our people.

We apologise to our residents and stakeholders for the seven days of dry taps.-Newsday