adminNqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
EIGHT families from Bulawayo’s Luveve suburb have spent nearly two weeks soaked in raw sewage from burst sewer pipes that council has failed to attend to. A Chronicle news crew visited the affected houses in the area yesterday where residents accused council of neglecting its duty.
The residents said they were living in fear of an outbreak of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
“My children have deserted their bedroom which has been reduced into a pool of sewage. I am scared that if it starts raining this situation will get worse,” said Shamiso Makumbe.
She said despite repeated efforts to notify council of the burst pipes, its workers did not bother to attend to the problem.
“When they came to attend to the manhole next door they refused to look at the one in my yard saying it was not their responsibility and told me to hire a plumber,” she said.
“They even referred me to a particular plumber who said the problem was with the council sewage system.”
Another resident Sibongile Banda said: “We cannot even cook in our houses and have to ask neighbours to cook for us. We did not even enjoy Christmas,” she said.
“As a Moslem this kind of environment is affecting my religion. I cannot pray in such a filthy place.”
Residents said burst sewer pipes were causing tension among the residents as some are against the idea of digging drains passing through their yards
“My neighbour ended up reporting us to the police after I opened a trench which released sewer water to pass through his yard as per advice from council,” said another resident.
Anderson Ndlovu said the problem has forced him to take his children to his relatives in other suburbs.
“I had to let my children visit other relatives because we cannot even use the toilet. We are forced to ask neighbours for using toilets,” he said.
The resident said when council workers came they just attended the two manholes for about to 10 minutes and that soon after they left the problem recurred.
They urged council to attend to burst pipes on time saying the situation was exposing their families to waterborne diseases.
Area councillor Tamani Moyo said: “I have tried to assist the residents but council workers are not cooperative. They do not want to listen.
“Residents are telling them which pipes give them problems but they do not want to listen. They come but fail to attend to the problem.”
Online Reporter