Harare moves to clear drains

Diana Nherera

The Harare City Council has resolved to hire equipment to clear blocked drainage system that has resulted in heavy flooding in the city.

The city’s health, disaster, risk management and public safety committee chairperson, Councillor Jane Bhingari, said the council, Government and other stakeholders agreed to hire machines to clear the drains.

Speaking after a meeting with Civil Protection Unit, Government Ministries, resident representatives and other stakeholders at the townhouse on Wednesday, Cllr Bhingari said all the equipment that the council does not have will be hired.

“We expect that by February, the city will not experience flash flooding even if we experience heavy rains,” she said.

Cllr Bhingari said going to tender may take three or four weeks while the next stage will be the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), resulting in further delays. She implored the Government to allow the city to hire equipment without going to tender due to the urgency of the matter.

“Because we do not have enough machinery and we need to hire more machinery to clear all drains in Harare,” she said.

“So, if we go to tender, then we might only be able to do the job next year.”