Colletta Dube
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
AN open manhole that has reportedly remained uncovered for more than a year in Bulawayo’s Njube C suburb has become a major safety hazard, with residents warning that it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed.
The more than two-metre-deep manhole is located in a residential area where children frequently play and residents walk daily, raising fears that it poses a significant risk, particularly to children, the elderly and visitors unfamiliar with the neighbourhood.
Residents say despite repeatedly raising the issue with the relevant authorities, the manhole remains exposed.
Mr Panashe Murewa said the uncovered manhole had become a constant source of anxiety for families in the area.
“We have been living with this danger for more than a year. It is only by God’s grace that no one has fallen into it. Children play around here every day and it is only a matter of time before a serious accident happens if nothing is done,” he said.
Ms Siyabonga Ncube said the danger is heightened at night and during electricity outages when visibility is poor.
“Many people walk through this area after dark and the open manhole is almost impossible to see. We fear that someone, especially an elderly person or a child, could easily fall into it. We are appealing to the council to act before lives are lost,” she said.
Another resident, Mr Mlanjwa Dube, described the situation as an accident waiting to happen.
“This is a disaster waiting to happen. We are simply asking the responsible authorities to cover the manhole and make the area safe. It should not take a tragedy for action to be taken,” he said.
The residents have appealed to the Bulawayo City Council to urgently secure the manhole and prioritise repairs to protect the public.
Repeated incidents involving open manholes and damaged drainage infrastructure have raised concerns in several suburbs, with residents calling for quicker responses to hazards that threaten public safety.
