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Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
HARARE residents this week blasted the MDC-led City Council for its failure to provide good service delivery by ignoring critical basics such as refuse collection, adequate water supply, sewer system management and street lighting, among others.
Speaking at a Press Club discussion on “How good or bad is service delivery in Harare?” organised by the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), Harare residents had no kind words for the local authority which they accused of taking them for granted.
They accused the local authority for the decay in the city and failing to render adequate service delivery to the residents.
One of the residents, Ms Nolly Mudiwa representing Kuwadzana 1 to Kuwadzana Extension, said council was not collecting refuse and sewer bursts had become the order of the day in Kuwadzana.
“Council is not collecting refuse in our area and they are saying they only have one dump compactor which is servicing Dzivarasekwa. This has resulted in the sprouting of illegal dumpsites which have become an eyesore in Kuwadzana. Council is not attending to sewer bursts. Our children are exposed to water-borne diseases due to council’s negligence on sewer bursts,” she fumed.
Another resident, Ms Charlene Gumbeze, from Glen View said the area has become a hotspot for cholera and typhoid because of council’s negligence in fixing burst sewer pipes.
Mr Kuda Chifamba said council must be stopped from conducting property valuation as it was a very expensive exercise.
“The money could be used for service delivery and road maintenance. Look at grass cutting, sewage, provision of clean water and street lights, they are in a state of decay.
“The city is aware of all the property sizes, what is new there. I guess somebody is benefiting and these people have to be stopped as there is no accountability in council,” he said.
Council acting spokesperson, Mr Innocent Ruwende, said they are facing challenges and drawbacks with their current method and model of waste management.
Mr Ruwende said the challenge was coupled with the culture of people who throw rubbish everywhere without thinking about the consequences of their actions which has resulted in garbage dumps accumulating in the city.
“With the rains , the garbage is then washed into our water bodies and consequently pose treatment challenges,” he said.
“Residents believe that there are others who will clean up after them and consequently, the responsibility of cleaning up litter falls on the Council which does not have enough resources to deal with the litter problem. The city does not have enough refuse trucks to service the city efficiently using its current model.
“Settlement patterns in the residential areas have also changed over the years with a housing unit now accommodating more than two families meaning more waste is generated.”
Online Reporter