Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
Herald Reporter
THE City of Harare said it has carried out sensitivity tests on the chemicals they are using to fumigate bed bugs in Mbare.
This follows complaints from residents of Matererini flats in Mbare that the chemicals being used by the council were only killing cockroaches, and some had to buy their own chemicals to fumigate.
City of Harare health services director Dr Prosper Chonzi said, unfortunately, bed bugs do not die like cockroaches as they hide in crevices and in areas that are not fumigated.
“So the bugs that they are seeing are those that have not been in contact with the chemicals,” he said.
“The problem that we are facing is of clutter in Matererini flats, so we are failing to fumigate the walls and hidden areas,” he said.
Dr Chonzi said some residents are not allowing council workers to access their rooms for fumigation.
“Which means if we spray in one room, they spread to unfumigated areas, and when the effect of the spray is reduced, they then return where we have fumigated,” he said.
“So we need to decongest the place, we need to declutter so that we fumigate everywhere.”
