Cholera fears grip Lupane

LUPANE town in Matabeleland North is reportedly sitting on a health time bomb due to open defecation practiced by residents in Lobengula suburb where there is no proper sewer reticulation.

Some residents have expressed concern that if not urgently addressed, there could be a cholera outbreak.

There is a cholera outbreak in Hwange town where residents use community toilets with no running water with new cases recorded daily.

In Lupane, the affected suburb was built about 20 years ago and residents moved in before the servicing of the area against modern urban council by-laws that prohibit occupation of any houses without a certificate of occupation, which is obtained after the local authority inspects and is satisfied with services.

The Lobengula housing scheme, formerly Hlalani Kuhle, was fast-tracked and residents were supposed to put septic tanks and soaker ways but moved in before the servicing.

However, some residents in the Mtshibini area, which has water are also relieving themselves in the bush taking advantage of the nearby bush oblivious of the health hazards as the runoff from the area goes down into Lupane River, which feeds into a nearby service dam.

A survey carried out by Lupane Local Board recently showed that there is serious open defecation in violation of the Public Health Act and cutting down of trees for firewood because the area also has no electricity.

A section of the suburb has been serviced by the Government for civil servants’ houses.

The local board has been making efforts to come up with strategies to solve the situation and some recommendations have been put for residents to collectively work with the local authority to mobilise resources and also attract investors.

“There is one section that has no water and sewer system. People were supposed to use the soaker way but they just occupied without servicing.

“People are taking advantage of the nearby bush to relieve themselves and the bush is also fast disappearing because of massive cutting down of trees for firewood,” said a resident Mr Sithwelenzima Dube.

He implored authorities to speed up servicing of the area especially as some materials have been lying idle on site for many years.

Community leader Mr Permanent Sibanda who is also Zanu-PF District Co-ordinating Committee chair for Lupane said the situation was a cause for concern.

“Generally, there is an outcry as people moved in before completion of servicing, hence we are sitting on a health time bomb because the effluent flows towards water bodies,” he said.

“We, therefore, need to put our hands together because if cholera comes it will affect all of us. Residents of Lobengula suburb should come together and find a lasting solution while the Lupane Local Board should also as a temporary measure consider ways of making sure people get services and also not allow people to move into unserviced land.”

Lupane Local Board Town Secretary Mr Chalton Moyo said the local authority was considering several measures to address the situation.

“The problem of Lobengula suburb is something we can’t run away from. The project was rushed and the scheme has stayed for too long without services. There is no sewer and water and we are now looking at ways to attract financiers.

“In the 2024 budget, we have provided for something to be done. As short-term solutions, we are working on using bowsers for water and we are going to do awareness campaigns, as well as have ward committees to clean the area,” he said.