Harare residents petition council over cholera

Zim Now Writer

Six Harare residents have submitted a petition to Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume calling for immediate action to address the recent cholera outbreak that was confirmed by City Health director Dr. Prosper Chonzi last week.

The residents expressed concern over the increase in the number of cholera cases in recent weeks, and the failure of the Harare City Council to efficiently attend to and provide permanent solutions to perennial sewer bursts, access to clean potable water, and non-collection of refuse.

“Disturbed by the cholera outbreak in the City of Harare that has claimed lives and infected residents living in poor sanitary conditions, and the increase in number of cholera cases over the recent weeks.

“Further disturbed by Harare City Council’s failure to efficiently attend to and provide permanent solutions to perennial sewer bursts, access to clean potable water and non-collection of refuse which are major drivers of water-borne diseases, including cholera with a potential to contribute to the spiking and surging of reported cholera cases in Glen View, Budiriro, Mbare and Dzivaresekwa,” said the residents.

The petitioners noted that the major drivers of water-borne diseases, including cholera, are the contamination of water sources resulting from sewer bursts, the lack of access to clean potable water, and the non-collection of refuse.

They highlighted a recent incident in Glen View 3 where a sewer burst contaminated a well which residents rely on for domestic purposes, posing a health hazard to residents.