Bulawayo

Bulawayo’s urban development is constrained by chronic water scarcity, ageing water and sewer networks and periodic service interruptions. As Zimbabwe’s second-largest city and a major industrial centre, dependable utilities are central to both neighbourhood conditions and the city’s capacity to support economic activity.

African Development Bank investment has rehabilitated pumping stations, treatment works, reservoirs, mains and distribution infrastructure, while later urban water programmes continue to strengthen service delivery. These projects are structurally important because water availability influences where and how the city can grow. Bulawayo’s future development depends on reducing network losses, maintaining sanitation systems and aligning new residential expansion with realistic water capacity. In a dry climate, water infrastructure functions as a primary urban-planning constraint rather than simply a municipal service.