Free-flowing sewage is a ticking health time bomb ...

Free-flowing sewage is a ticking health time bomb for Chitown

Philemon Jambaya

A health time bomb is ticking in Chitungwiza as the local authority is failing to deal with the raw sewage seen all over the dormitory town.

The sewage flows onto the streets and shallow wells, where people fetch drinking water.

Council has failed to adequately address the erratic supplies of potable water that has been associated with the Harare’s dormitory town for years.

A snap survey by Zim Now over the weekend witnessed children playing on the streets barefoot, without caring a jot about the flowing sewage.

Residents said they have already given up on the situation since they have learned to live like that.

“We have given up on the situation as the council doesn’t even attend to our complaints. They actually ignore our calls and only come here when they want,” Rudo Muchemwa of Zengeza 1 said.

In Zengeza 4, council employees were accused of demanding money before they attend to sewer bursts.

“It is surprising that council workers this side demand money and food from residents before they attend to sewer bursts. We are forced to collect at least one dollar from every household here,” said Kudakwashe Chatara.

Stagnant pools of sewage have been allowed to collect in front of homes. Children play nearby.

Health authorities say that blocked sewers left unattended have contaminated water supplies.

Chitungwiza Town Council has been turned into a war zone between Zanu PF councillors and those from the Citizens Coalition for Change and residents have blamed the fights.

“The unnecessary fights we see at council at the expense of service delivery are alarming. We call upon our councillors to have unity of purpose rather than these fights. I tell you very soon we are going to have another cholera outbreak,” said Nancy Khumalo.

Chitungwiza Residents Trust Director Alice Kuveya echoed Khumalo’s sentiments.

“It is sad that we elect people to go and represent us but end up fighting for positions or politicising service delivery at the expense of residents. They must fulfil their promises to bring service delivery, leave politics and greed to their houses,” added Kuveya.

Efforts to get a comment from Chitungwiza Municipality proved fruitless as the acting Mayor Kevin Mutimbanyoka did not pick up is mobile phone and the local authority’s spokesperson, Lovemore Meya, asked for more time to respond.