Chegutu fails to solve sewer crisis

AUTHORITIES at Chegutu Municipality have admitted that council has no capacity to end perennial sewer bursts that have affected the town for many years.

The town has been struggling to rehabilitate sewer reticulation systems with a cholera outbreak hitting the centre early this year.

Four people died during the cholera outbreak.

Addressing a full council meeting recently, town clerk Mr Alex Mandigo said the local authority was incapacitated to address the root cause of sewer bursts due to lack of funding.

He said spirited efforts by both council and residents was key to try and contain the situation at least for now, especially in Ward 8.

“Reticulation systems in our town are obsolete and are now clogging while our engineers will be clearing blockages using rods,” said Mr Mandigo.

“It’s a challenge sometimes as the pipes are made of asbestos so rods end up damaging them.

“There is, however, need for an overhaul of the whole system, but it needs funding and for now we are just dealing with the end result not addressing the root cause.

“It’s a cause for concern as well that when we toured some of our manholes, we were surprised that residents are throwing blankets and animal skins, especially thieves that would have stolen goats.

“They also throw diapers and stones.

“We opened another manhole and found the same stuff. It’s so bad and it shows that the acts are deliberate because the manhole cover is so big and so heavy that it cannot be children, but adults.”

Mr Mandigo’s remarks came at a time residents and the business community have expressed serious concern over the perennial sewer bursts.