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By Daglous Masveta
Some residents of St Mary’s Chitungwiza are facing the possibility of having a bleak Christmas due to a sewage problem that has persisted for months.
For over three months, residents of 63, 64, 65, and 66 Nehanda Close, St Mary’s, just a stone’s throw from St Mary’s Police Station, have been grappling with a perennial sewage problem that has turned their lives into a never-ending nightmare.
The situation is so dire that raw sewage is flowing into homes, with some houses experiencing sewage bursting from toilets, rendering them uninhabitable.
Despite their desperate efforts to sweep away the ever-flowing sewage, residents have been unable to find relief.
The situation has started to adversely affect the residents with some falling the possibly of falling sick with diseases such as dysentery, cholera, and typhoid.
One of the affected residents Mr Tariro Bhasikoro said they are still waiting for authorities to act on the matter.
“It is unbearable, we are tired of living in these conditions. We need help, and we need it now,” he said.
“We are now thinking of relocating to safer places because the local authorities are not responding swiftly to this emergency issue.
“Sewage is flowing right inside our houses we cannot even enjoy Christmas celebrations with others as flies are always roaming around worst of it the smell of raw faecal matter.”
Another resident, Tecla Bomba said the situation reminds her of the 2008 period when she was admitted at Chitungwiza Central Hospital due to cholera.
“We do not want history to repeat itself here, cholera is a deadly disease, I was diagnosed with cholera in 2008 together with my children but we were lucky to survive due to urgent medical assistance that was rendered to us. Now the same area has been hit by this sewage crisis bringing back the trauma,” she said.
Speaking in a telephone interview, Chitungwiza Council public relations officer Mr Tafadzwa Kachiko said they are looking into the matter.
“Plans are in a pipeline that we sort out sewage issues in Chitungwiza focusing on our 2025 proposed budget to the tune of US$5,1 million,” he said.
“We hope that by next year Chitungwiza will restore its smart town status. Our works department is working tirelessly to fix water issues and they need financial and mechanical support since the sewage issues are overwhelming, especially this rainy season.
Online Reporter