Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
RESIDENTS of Zengeza 1 have raised concern over overflowing sewage along Rusvingo Street after two young children allegedly fell into an open, sewage-filled drain within days of each other.
The mother of one of the two children who fell into the drain said her one-year-old son has since developed dysentery.
“There is a drain along Rusvingo Street that has sewage and that is where we pass through,” she said.
“These drains are in front of our houses. Children will be playing and, as they try to cross, they end up falling inside. The drain is full of flowing sewage.”
She said another child, aged two, also fell into the drain a few days earlier.
“His face was covered in sewage and he is now suffering from dysentery. Almost all children from the entire road have fallen into the sewer. We fear for our children’s health,” she said.
“We have been asking council to bring a honeysucker to drain the sewer because they are saying their equipment is failing to unblock it.”
Contacted for comment, Chitungwiza Municipality spokesperson Mr Tafadzwa Kachiko said the municipality had not received any reports of children falling into clogged sewer drains along Rusvingo Street.
“If such incidents have occurred, they are sincerely regretted and we urge affected residents to report them to the municipality immediately so that appropriate action can be taken,” he said.
“We have, however, received reports of sewer blockages in the area. This morning, two residents from Rusvingo Street visited my office to report a blocked sewer but they did not report any incidents involving children falling into the drain.
“The matter was immediately referred to the sewer section and a maintenance team was scheduled to attend to the blockage before the end of the day.”
Mr Kachiko acknowledged that sections of Chitungwiza’s ageing sewer network have deteriorated over the years, resulting in recurring blockages and sewer bursts.
“Our sewer teams continue to respond daily to unblock affected drains and restore service, although these interventions provide temporary relief.
“The long-term solution is the replacement of the old sewer infrastructure,” he said.
He added that the municipality has begun replacing major trunk sewer lines and is procuring additional pipes to rehabilitate other sections of the network, particularly identified hotspot areas prone to frequent blockages and sewer bursts.
Mr Kachiko urged residents to exercise caution around blocked sewer lines and to promptly report sewer emergencies through the municipality’s established communication channels.
