Council ‘vanity toys’ grounded

Senior reporter

Two mechanical road sweepers acquired by the Harare City Council (HCC) in 2016 at an for US$600 000 have broken down, and the local authority is now actively looking for $200 000 to procure spare parts for the machines, which ratepayers once described as “vanity toys”.

Council ‘controversially’ acquired the Duvelo 5000 Evolution EU4-EU5 mobile mechanical sweepers from South Africa despite strong resistance by residents, who questioned the seemingly inflated price, especially after investigations revealed that the cost of each machine averaged US$60 000 elsewhere. It has, however, emerged that the machines — which used to be deployed three times a week in the central business district between 9pm and 4am — have now been grounded owing to mechanical faults and recurrent breakdowns.

HCC Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango told The Sunday Mail that council was having “big issues” with the machines.

He referred further questions to City of Harare’s director of works, Engineer Isaiah Chawatama, who confirmed that council needed more funds to repair the mechanical sweepers.

“Basically, the machines developed problems with gaskets and brushes, and in order to acquire the spare parts from South Africa, we need approximately US$200 000,” said Eng Chawatama.

“To order the spares we need to pay in advance, so at the moment we are still at the payment stage.

“But if we manage to acquire the gaskets, we can operate the machines using the available brushes that are currently fitted on the machines for approximately a month.

“They broke down around October last year after being commissioned to start working in March.”

Eng Chawatama said the machines were dogged by “recurrent on-and-off problems”.

“So we hope that after payment goes through in the coming month we should bring them back,” he said.

“The HRT is unaware of the presence of the road sweepers, or if they have been deployed on any of our roads,” said Mr Shumba.

“The roads are heavily potholed, and there is little roadworks taking place across Harare. ‘‘

“We recall the former town clerk, Dr Tendai Mahachi, announcing the council’s intentions (to acquire the machines), but we have not seen these sweepers in use anywhere in council.”

When functional, the mechanical sweepers collect bottles, small wood cases and stones by means of side brushes that convey the waste to the centre (of the vehicles), where they are sucked into a waste tank.

Harare has been accused of wasteful spending and investing in “meaningless” vanity projects, including plans to construct a new sports stadium despite failing to maintain nearly all sports facilities under its jurisdiction.