Fix Nyatsime infrastructure
EDITOR — Sadc has warned countries in the region to be on the lookout for increased diarrhoeal cases due to incessant rains in various member-states.
Surface water stagnation and flooding, which is reported to increase the risk of water-borne diseases and malaria, is showing early signs in parts of Zimbabwe.
In Chitungwiza, this year alone three lives have reportedly been lost as people tried to cross the flooded Nyatsime River from the old suburbs to the Nyatsime housing project.
Chitungwiza Municipality created more than 15 000 residential stands and sold them to beneficiaries from 2005 onwards. To date, more than 4 000 families have settled in the Nyatsime area, but there is no proper road network that connects Nyatsime to the old town.
A makeshift bridge was erected by desperate homeowners to ensure access to their houses in Nyatsime.
The bridge and road to Nyatsime are slowly succumbing to flooding that has characterised the current rainy season thereby exposing people to danger. The Nyatsime river is frequently in flood these days with water completely covering the bridge.
Barely a week ago, a group of eight people escaped death by a whisker after they were caught trying to cross the flooded river.
Another person died while trying to cross the flooded Nyatsime River.
A primary school pupil drowned on Sunday as he was coming from a church service in old Chitungwiza. It is against this disheartening background that we appeal to the Chitungwiza Municipality and Government to urgently consider the sanctity of human life and construct a standard bridge linking the other suburbs with the Nyatsime housing project.
This will not only improve access to Nyatsime housing project, but also end avoidable loss of precious human lives as people try to cross flooded rivers.
We also urge the local authority to open up blocked drainage ways and consider the construction of new storm water drainage systems.
The Chitungwiza Residents Trust warns the general public against the hazards associated with crossing flooded rivers.
Chitungwiza Residents Trust, Chitungwiza.