Raw sewage pumped into river

which is one of the tributaries feeding Lake Mutirikwi.
The lake supplies the city. The effluent has been flowing into Mucheke River for several days after a sewer pipe burst at the municipal workshops in Masvingo’s industrial area.
There are now fears of a disease outbreak.
Fish and the general river ecosystem are also under threat.
Masvingo Mayor Alderman Femius Chakabuda confirmed the situation, but said the burst sewer had been repaired.
Ald Chakabuda allayed fears of dangers to aquatic life and contamination of Lake Mutirikwi.
“There should not be too much worry about.
“However, as council, we regret the discharge of the sewage into Mucheke River and remedial action has been taken to avoid a recurrence of the situation,” he said.
Most of Masvingo’s sewer and water reticulation pipes are either obsolete or too small to cope with increased demand due to population growth.
Council has embarked on a water augmentation programme to increase its capacity.
The system was last upgraded in 1984 when the then town had a population of only 20 000 compared to today’s estimated population of 100 000 residents.