Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
THE Budiriro community has called on the City of Harare to take responsibility after three bodies were retrieved from a pit filled with sewer sludge.
The tragedy began when Saul Karakadzai, 19, drowned in the sludge pit, prompting a search in which two other bodies were retrieved from the same location.
Residents said the area was left uncovered.
“We are not happy at all about the irresponsible manner in which human lives are put at risk when public works employees leave open pits,” said one resident.
He said this is not the first time such negligence has been noted.
He said a number of people have previously been injured near the Market Square bus terminus after falling into an open pit.
“They (City of Harare employees) have a tendency of leaving some pits not properly cordoned off as a sign of unfinished work, only to return when incidents like these happen.
“We are calling on the city fathers to be responsible,” he said.
In a statement, police national spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said the sludge pit, measuring approximately three metres deep, seven metres long and two metres wide, was left open.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the death of three people who drowned in a pit filled with sewer sludge in Budiriro 3 New Stands, Harare, on 7 June 2026,” said Comm Nyathi.
He said one victim and a friend were walking along a narrow pathway when the victim accidentally fell into the pit and drowned.
“The friend alerted nearby residents and the police who swiftly responded and assisted in retrieving the victim.
“During the retrieval process, two other bodies were discovered in the pit.”
Comm Nyathi said the three bodies were retrieved and taken to Sally Mugabe Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.
Meanwhile, the police are investigating murder cases in Nyamandlovu, Lupane, in which two brothers died following a violent altercation on Saturday over a dispute related to a funeral parlour pamphlet.
Preliminary investigations indicate that one of the brothers was given a pamphlet containing information on how to join the funeral service firm.
An argument allegedly followed, with one brother accusing the other of intending to join Satanism.
During the altercation, police said one of the brothers allegedly struck the other several times on the head with a log.
The injured man was later offered shelter by a friend and was found dead the following day.
On the same date, the other brother was found dead under a tree with bruises on his body.
