The untold story of sewage in Kadoma
IN Rimuka, Kadoma’s oldest suburb, rivulets of raw sewage flow undisturbed; flies hover and somersault at will from the sewer to foodstuffs, while the fetid smell wafts in homes and little everywhere else, again and again, and again and again. This has become norm. A fetid norm! Hell hath no fury like residents living side by side with flowing raw sewage and being exposed to the stench smell and all the disgust, ingenuity and inhuman timbre that comes with it.
It has been years in Rimuka, Kadoma’s oldest high density suburb since sewer bursts have been a cause for concern.
The residents have been making endless efforts to have burst sewer pipes and those that were ageing replaced but their plight fell on deaf ears.
Mayors have changed and tables have turned at Kadoma municipality but the local authority seemed to be paying a blind eye to the issue.
One would rarely walk into the streets of Rimuka as they are greeted by sewage upon entering the high density suburb.
Sewage has become the order of the day with fear of disease outbreaks worrying the disgruntled parents.
In the General Baracks (GB) and Single Quarter (SQ) area which is equivalent of Harare’s Mbare suburb, children could be seen playing in areas where sewage will be flowing.
Some parents would express ignorance at children putting empty plastic bottles as boats where sewage will be flowing.
As of that is not enough the public toilets and bathrooms are at a sorry state and could rarely enter as they are greeted by human waste on the entrance.
These are the facilities that are used by
the residents on a day to day basis as their houses have no bathrooms and toilets and some have resorted to bath in their homes.
Other suburbs, among them Waverley and Ngezi have not been spared by sewer bursts as they are continuously exposed to the disgusting odour.
The residents through Kadoma Progressive Residents Association (KAPRA) have expressed a deep concern over council’s negligence in solving sewer problems.
Mr George Goliati, chairman of the Association said the city was being neglected and there was an urgent need to address issues of sewer bursts in the city.
“The issue of sewer leakages is a very serious issue in Kadoma.
“Every week we experience sewer bursts putting the lives of residents at risk of dis
eases. The sewer pipes are old and need to be replaced because they have not been changed for more than 40 years.
“Rimuka is the most affected suburb with other suburbs such as Waverley and Ngezi facing the same situation.
“There is no holistic approach by council to replace the pipes especially in the GB and SQ areas,” he said.
Mr Goliati said the was a need to build more houses to accommodate the increasing population so as to decongest the existing sewer system.
“The population in the two areas has increased over the years and the toilets no longer accommodate the numbers as the houses were meant for bachelors but are now occupied by families.
“Council is paying a blind eye on the situation and we are worried because we are now in the rainy season and the situation might worsen,” he said.
Kadoma City Council reportedly promised 18 private land developers a site for the construction of sewer ponds to connect more than 10 000 new stands to the city’s waste management system several years back.
The council had agreed to join hands with 18 private land developers in the construction of sewer ponds in the project, but had been stalled since 2013.
The municipality, which is led by the CCC, is alleged to be now reluctant to provide land for off-site infrastructure of sewer.
It is alleged that the city council is delaying to provide the sewer ponds construction site as “sabotage” to the developers so that they will be seen as failures in their projects in the city.
Kadoma Mayor Action Nyamukondiwa confirmed the terrible situation and said efforts were being made to solve the sewer situation in the city.
“The sewer situation it’s true it’s pathetic. Actually the whole of Rimuka, parts of Waverley, Lady Tait Primary School and parts of Ngezi.
“We have formed a dragging team that is cleaning the manholes to try and ease the problem though it is not the final solution.
The solution is to remove most pipes and realign the sewer system section by section.
We have since started in Ward 6’s Ndowa Street where we have already excavated 100 metres and laying of pipes should commence tomorrow. Other areas we will continue easing by roding for the residents to have a temporary relief,” he said.
On September 10, 2020 the council had a meeting chaired by its acting director of housing and social service, Mr Aaron Masembura, where the 18 developers raised concern that delays in the provision of offsite infrastructure sewer ponds had delayed completion of many projects in the city.
The developers working on housing projects to fulfil Vision 2030 by building accommodation for Kadoma city, alleged that council is against the Government’s vision seeking to provide the majority with decent accommodation that was implemented in September 2018.
It is alleged that the council is avoiding meeting the developers since their last meeting in September 2020 to discuss progress of sewer ponds construction.