22/11/2025
Madlambudzi Demands Water, District Takes Action
Yvonne T. Buzwane||Radio Bukalanga
22 Mbudzi 2025,
Bulilima
The Madlambudzi Rural Service Centre in Bulilima District is facing a worsening water and sanitation crisis, prompting residents to call on district authorities for urgent intervention. With neither running water nor sewer systems in place, despite the area being a designated rural service centre, families and businesses have been struggling to access the most basic services for daily life and economic activity.
Responding to this call, the Bulilima WASH Committee, chaired by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) with the Rural District Council (RDC) as secretary and overall authority, visited the settlement this Friday the 21st of November, 2025 for what became a crucial consultative and needs-assessment meeting. The visit was meant to give technical experts a clear picture of the challenges on the ground while allowing residents to share their concerns directly.
Although the turnout from both residents and business owners was lower than expected, the engagement showed a strong willingness from those present to work with the technical team. Residents explained that previous surveying attempts had failed to identify reliable underground water, leaving the community dry. Some proposed that water be drawn from Thekwane River, about four kilometres away, while others suggested tapping into Madlambudzi Dam, which already supplies water to Madlambudzi High School and the local clinic. The councillor raised this option formally, and RIDA committed to examining the possibility and reporting back once assessments were complete.
The meeting also highlighted the community’s determination to contribute to lasting solutions. Madlambudzi has a working residents’ committee, and the 179 billable households, including business premises, agreed to contribute R500 per stand. This contribution, they said, would support the technical groundwork required to begin addressing water shortages and planning for full service delivery.
Residents also emphasized the need for long-term thinking. One of them, Mr. Chris Moyo cautioned against relying solely on boreholes, noting that the number of stands already occupied means Madlambudzi will soon outgrow short-medium term interventions. The RDC acknowledged this and announced that surveyors will visit the area to determine suitable locations for two potential boreholes. The final decision on where and when to drill will be guided by the survey results, making sure that funds and efforts are not wasted.
Throughout the discussion, the WASH Committee stressed that Madlambudzi needs a complete and sustainable system, not only water supply but also sewer reticulation and a functional treatment plant. The RDC also reiterated the need for a long-term plan to revive Madlambudzi Dam to ensure that, as the settlement expands, its water sources can support the growing population.
The meeting closed with encouragement for residents to continue fundraising so that when the next consultative engagement takes place, they will be ready to present a structured list of needs and associated costs. Both the technical team and the community agreed that progress will depend on collaboration, transparency, and continuous participation.
While this was only the first of many engagements to come, it demonstrated that the district’s technical leadership is listening, and that the community is prepared to play its part in securing reliable, sustainable water for Madlambudzi’s future.
Follow the Radio Bukalanga 100.9FM:Community Radio Station in Bukalanga. channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaTTc2W3WHTguJRbmh2x
https://radiobukalanga.org/2025/11/22/madlambudzi-demands-water-district-takes-action/
