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HARARE residents are concerned about the risk of a large-scale cholera outbreak due to prolonged water shortages in many suburbs.
People have resorted to fetching water from contaminated sources.
As of Tuesday, Zimbabwe had recorded 2 076 cholera cases and 15 deaths, with Harare, Manicaland and Matabeleland South provinces contributing 83 percent of the country’s cases.
The Government has responded by reinforcing the multi-sectoral approach to the outbreak, prioritising improved water and sanitation.
In Budiriro, some residents have been collecting dirty water from burst pipes and vandalising reservoir pipes to get access to water.
Additionally, large numbers of residents are struggling to maintain good hygiene practices, especially those sharing toilets, and unable to keep them clean without water.
Sekesai Dube from Glen View said they have gone for more than five days without water and were told that the Council was fixing a pumping problem at one of the reservoirs.
“The problem is not even at schools only but even here at home, because children will always want to use the toilet and, as such, you need to make sure that the toilet is always clean.
“But, how do I clean the toilet without water?
“It’s worse for us who are renting and have to share toilets because I can’t be forcing an old person to keep the toilet clean and I can’t always be guarding people who are going into the toilet.”
Edith Kurewa of Budiriro 2 said residents were now getting water from a burst pipe along Nzou Road.
“We no longer have time for anything else at our homes as we spend hours sitting here waiting for our turn to fetch water,” said Kurewa.
Another Budiriro resident, Prince Taruvinga, said they were desperate for running water in their homes.
He said the Council should make an effort to ensure that residents do not go for more than three days without water.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter