Patients left stranded as Mpilo Hospital runs out of water

By Dumisani Nyoni

Patients at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo were last Saturday left stranded when the referral health institution went without water for the better part of the day.

Authorities attributed the problem to the Bulawayo City Council’s (BCC) ongoing water rationing programme, which was further worsened by a pipe burst.

A visit to the public hospital by RadioVOP on Saturday saw toilets in a deplorable state while vendors outside the institution were making a killing through selling the precious liquid in different quantities.

Patients and visitors said the situation was dire and urged the authorities to address it with urgency.

“The hospital has been without water since morning and all operations have been suspended until the situation improves,” said one patient.

Visitors said they could not bring water for their loved ones from home since they were also hit by a water rationing programme which was introduced by the city last week.

BCC last week introduced a 48-hour water rationing programme following a decline in water levels at the city’s major supply dams and a burst on the Mtshabezi Pipeline.

However, the council is failing to follow its laid down schedule with other suburbs in the high density areas in the city’s western parts going for a week without the precious liquid.

Contacted for comment, the hospitals’ promotions officer, Ozias Ndlovu said they have since rectified the situation.

“Yes we experienced water challenges on Saturday due to pipe bursts at Amakhosi Cultural Centre. However, we have since rectified the situation,” Ndlovu said.

Some critical institutions and industries which are outside the water rationing schedule have experienced water shortages due to the pipe bursts. Radio VOP