adminH-Metro Reporter
Graphic failings of those leading the City of Harare can be put into context by the way they have seemingly neglected Mbare’s iconic flats.
A visit by H-Metro to Matapi Flats yesterday revealed the shocking degree to which the city fathers have abandoned their civic duties.
Garbage, which appears to have been accumulating for months, greets a visitor to Matapi Flats.
There is no hope that this will be cleared soon.
“As funny as it sounds, we have become used to this as part of our lives,” said one resident.
“It looks like the City Councillor for our area disappeared and those at Town House have forgotten we are still here.
“I don’t remember the last time a garbage truck came here.
“You worry about the health of the kids and even our own health.”
Raw sewage also flows from broken pipes, including some which appear to have been replaced a long time ago.
There has been a lot of renewed focus on the failings of the city fathers, in recent weeks. On Monday, vendors and kombi operators revealed they are angered by the City Council’s failure to collect refuse in the Central Business District.
Streets in downtown Harare have now been turned into dumpsites as trash continues piling up.
A vendor, Rutendo Makamba, said Council’s failure to collect refuse was posing a health threat.
“This culture of not collecting refuse is a danger to the environment and our health, especially when it comes to diseases related to lack of cleanliness. Some of us bring our children to work because there is no one to take care of them at home. We are afraid they will get sick. Downtown is badly hit because it’s too crowded,” she said.
They have appealed to the Council to collect refuse, at least, once a week, to prevent a disease outbreak. Earlier this year, the City Fathers promised to improve garbage collection, but the situation keeps getting worse.
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