Heavy rains worsen ChiTown sewage challenges
HEAVY rains that hit several parts of the country last week have exposed Chitungwiza’s poor sewer system, with sewage now gushing out of people’s toilets.
The most affected residents are in Seke Unit O and Unit M, where they are now forced to use bush toilets or plastic bags to relieve themselves.
They are dumping the plastics at undesignated places.
Chitungwiza Municipality spokesperson Lovemore Meya described Unit M as a sewage hotspot.
This comes at a time when over 1 000 families in Seke and other areas are experiencing incessant sewage blockages and overflows.
Unit O resident Tonderai Murehwa told NewsDay that they reported the sewage overflows to council, but no action had been taken.
“The sewage problems have been worsened by the incessant rains. Whenever piped water is available, sewage splashes from our toilets and it can spill to other rooms in the house,” Murehwa.
“Some residents have filled their toilet chambers with sand bags to stop the sewage spills, and they now use plastic bags to relieve themselves, which are then dumped in nearby bushes.”
Residents’ organisations described the situation as “very worrying” amid fears of an outbreak of waterborne diseases.
Manyame Rural Residents Association secretary Brighton Mazhindu said: “Residents are surviving by the grace of God as they interact with human waste daily.
It appears that Chitungwiza Municipality has no clear strategy to deal with the situation. Upgrading of sewer systems and refurbishment of pump stations may solve the problem.”
Chitungwiza Residents Trust director Alice Kuveya said: “Our lives are at risk, especially considering that it’s raining. Most people in Chitungwiza get their water from unprotected wells since the council’s water supplies are erratic.
“In addition, garbage collection is also inconsistent. The situation is very scary and the council is not doing anything to safeguard our lives.”
Chitungwiza Municipality director for health Tonderai Kasu said there were no recorded cases of waterborne diseases.
“I can confirm that we don’t have any outbreak of waterborne diseases. We don’t have any cases of cholera, typhoid or dysentery in Chitungwiza,” he said.
Mayor Lovemore Maiko told NewsDay that the town’s sewer system was not working efficiently due to obsolete infrastructure.
“I know of an area in Unit M which suffers from perennial sewage challenges caused by houses built on top of sewer lines,” he said.
“Our sewer network is also in such a mess because it’s now obsolete and capital is needed to revamp it.”
Maiko expressed hope that the African Development Bank’s ZimFund for Phase III of the Urgent Water Supply and Sanitation Rehabilitation project would help to ease the situation.