Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
Harare’s Ward 3 Mbare Councillor Simbarashe Chanachimwe said the accident that took place in Budiriro, where three lives were lost when they fell into a mud hole, is a wake-up call for the City of Harare to invest more in honeysuckers, as the life of the sub aqua diver also could have been lost.
Speaking at a full council meeting at the townhouse today, Cllr Chanachimwe said the council could have used a machine to remove the bodies easily.
“Council could have used a machine to remove the bodies easily,” he said.
The councillor also sought clarity on the availability of honeysuckers within the local authority and called for partnerships to address sewer management challenges across the city.
He expressed concern over open pits in the Machubhu area of Mbare, where he said some pits measuring between 10 and 15 metres deep had remained unattended for more than six months.
“Because there is a challenge of sewer in Machubhu in Mbare, there are 10 and 15-metre pits that have not yet been closed for the past six months,” said Cllr Chanachimwe.
Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume acknowledged the need for additional equipment, revealing that the city currently has only one honeysucker.
“There is a need to buy more honeysuckers,” he said.
Cllr Mafume said the council was working towards concluding a partnership aimed at improving infrastructure and service delivery.
“We have a partnership that we are hoping to sign very soon. The paperwork is with ZIDA, and those in charge have assured us that progress is being made,” he said.
The mayor said discussions facilitated by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works were ongoing and that the council had already appointed a financial adviser for the proposed transaction.
“If the process moves quickly, there will be noticeable improvements once we have satisfied the issues and requirements that ZIDA is assisting us with. So we will buy the honeysuckers,” he said.
Cllr Mafume also said the council was exploring broader mechanisation initiatives to improve service delivery.
“Other municipalities have taken advantage of the bilateral agreement the Government has with Belarus to mechanise city councils, so we are going to follow suit, as Harare and come up with a mechanisation plan,” he said.
The discussions come amid growing calls for the city to strengthen sewer maintenance operations and address public safety risks associated with ageing infrastructure and open excavation sites.
