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Municipal Reporter
Harare residents have criticised council for failing to clear its clogged drainage system, a situation that may lead to flash floods.
Rains were experienced last week on Wednesday and Thursday, and indications of challenges with storm water drains became evident.
Along Samora Machel Avenue, one of the busiest roads in the capital, storm drains were clogged.
It was almost the same across the city, with other streets such as Mbuya Nehanda and Chinhoyi.
Combined Harare Residents Association director Mrs Loreen Mupasiri-Sani said failure to clear the drainage system was a cause for concern.
“Most of the drainage system, especially in high density areas, are clogged with litter and in areas like Mufakose where there are recurrent sewer bursts, there is no fumigation and already those areas are breeding grounds for mosquitoes,” she said.
“So, it is another health hazard again — contracting cholera and malaria. If nothing is done, there is a likelihood of flash floods because the drains are clogged.”
Whenever it rains, flooding causes traffic congestion and disorder in the CBD, but the City of Harare over the years has been struggling to maintain an orderly drainage system, resulting in roads flooding.
Investigations further revealed that storm drains are clogged with garbage dumped by both litter bugs and council employees.
Harare City Council principal communications officer Mr Innocent Ruwende recently attributed the blockages to vendors whom he accused of keeping their wares inside storm water drains.
Online Reporter