THE Wetskills Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in the Netherlands, whose researchers are working on finding a lasting solution to the water crisis bedevilling Bulawayo, will submit its research findings and a possible way out to the municipality early next week, Southern Eye has established.
The Dutch organisation is working with the Green Hut Trust, National University of Science and Technology, Netherlands embassy to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.
Bulawayo is the latest target city in its bid to find a lasting solution to the water challenges through research.
Speaking to Southern Eye this week, Wetskills regional manager for sub-Saharan Africa, Craig Tinashe Tanyanyiwa, said the research was being done by students studying for bachelors, masters and PhD degrees as well as other people passionate about water and are under the age of 35.
He said each of the groups would present its findings in two-minute pitches at the City Hall.
“We got cases from industries and these are real water challenges and we research to find solutions. The research programme is taking place in 13 days and researchers have 10 days to come up with a working concept or solution to address the challenges that have been presented to them,” he said.
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Tanyanyiwa said they received information from the Bulawayo City Council regarding water challenges affecting the city.
“Bulawayo is one of the cities that is facing challenges of the El Niño-induced drought and we are doing research on how to come up with a response plan to the drought and find alternative water sources,” he said.
“With this current drought, the City of Bulawayo is looking at how it can get to prepare itself for droughts such as this one because they have been happening for a long time due to climate change.
“The city is basically looking at how it can develop a drought response plan that aligns with the challenges."
Tanyanyiwa said the implementation of the research findings would depend on council.
“We try to make them as practical as possible but then because as an organisation we do not implement the solutions, it is the case owner that implements,” he said.
Wetskills Foundation has conducted researches in water challenges in 29 countries worldwide with the goal of inspiring young professionals to tackle global water challenges through innovative, interdisciplinary problem solving.
Bulawayo is facing the worst water challenge in years, with the council indicating that it will be increasing water-shedding to 144 hours.