By Kelvin Wilson Kasiwulaya
GWERU, Zimbabwe – Residents of Mtapa Section 5 were left grappling with a horrifying sight as heavy rains inundated their homes with raw sewage yesterday ( 16/01/2024), intensifying concerns over Zimbabwe’s cholera outbreak that has taken months to control.
Nancy Musindo, a resident of No 170 Mtapa Section 5, expressed her distress as she tirelessly mopped faecal matter from inside her house.
The overwhelmed homeowner shared her encounter with townhouse staff who provided her with an unidentified disinfectant to prevent the spread of cholera and typhoid.
She recounted, “They just shoveled the white staff into a paper bag and said I should go back home.”
Nancy had previously reported a sewage leak behind her home, resulting in council workers visiting her property to address the issue.
Nancy Musindo standing at her door step after spreading a disinfectant given to her by Gweru City Council officials
However, following the heavy downpour, the problem resurfaced on an unprecedented scale, causing raw sewage to infiltrate her house once again.
Another resident, Mai Nancy of No 197 Mtapa Section 5, was equally appalled when she discovered plates and plastic kitchen utensils floating in sewage water upon entering her kitchen on January 16, 2023.
Mai Nancy explaining how the raw sewage got Into her house
Although she managed to clean the mess, the raw sewage continues to flow outside her doorstep.
Expressing concerns for her six children playing in the contaminated area, she pleaded for urgent action from the council, stating, “My fear is that they might contract typhoid and cholera. I hope that the council guys will treat this matter with urgency before we become the fatal victims of waterborne diseases.”
Children in Mtapa Section 5 sitting besides spewing sewage.
A child jumps over flowing raw sewage in Mtapa Section 5
Adding to the outcry, Mr Tinashe Mabvure highlighted the dire situation and urged the council to take immediate measures to halt the influx of raw sewage into their homes.
Mr Tinashe Mabvure Showing our News Crew how the sewer challenge started
He criticized the city authorities for their lack of proactive measures in upgrading the sewer reticulation system in Mtapa, even as other cities grapple with cholera outbreaks.
In response to the mounting concerns, City of Gweru Public Relations Officer, Vimbai Chingwaramusee, acknowledged the severity of the situation in Mtapa and assured residents that the council is working tirelessly to refurbish the sewer reticulation system in the area.
Chingwaramusee explained, “We do have a serious blockage in those sections of Mtapa, mainly caused by the heavy rains and residents who indiscriminately dispose of stones and debris into the sewer system, which exacerbates the prevalence of blockages.”
Recognizing the need to accommodate the increasing population in the Mtapa Section 5 area, the local authority emphasized the importance of refurbishing the entire sewer system.
As residents of Mtapa Section 5 continue to grapple with not only flooding but also the risk of waterborne diseases, calls for swift and comprehensive action from the city council grow louder. With the cholera outbreak lingering, the urgency to address and resolve the sewage crisis cannot be understated.
As of 14 January 2024, Zimbabwe had recorded and 390 are cases hospitalized cases according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) daily Cholera Situation Report. The cases were reported from Chiredzi (45), Chipinge (33), Makonde (18), Zvimba (18), Chitungwiza City (15), Glenview (14), Mutare (13), Seke (11), Mberengwa (11), BRIDH (9), Bikita (9), Buhera (6), Bindura (6), Mazowe (5), Gutu (5), Centenary (5), Budoriro (5), Zvishavane (5), Chimanimani (4) Gokwe North (4). Chivi (4), Chikomba (3), Highfield (3), UMP (2), Rutsanana (2), Hwange (2), Mt Darwin (2), Hurungwe (1), Kariba (1), Mudzi (1) Sanyati (1) and Gwanda (1).
In terms of hospitalisations, Chiredzi recorded (83) patients, Bikita (13), Chivi (16), Masvingo (1), Gutu (4), in Masvingo Province, Buhera (21), Mutare Rural (16), Chipinge (48), Mutare City (3), Chimanimani (1), Mutasa (1) in Manicaland Province, BRIDH (43), Chitungwiza City (7) in Harare Province, Mberengwa (7), in Midlands Province, Mazowe (14), Bindura (11), Centenary (7), Mt Darwin (4) in Mash Central Province, Makonde (40), Zvimba (18), Kariba (1), Hurungwe (1) Sanyati (1) in Mash West Province, Gwanda (4) in Mat South Province, UMP (8), Marondera (4) Seke (8), Chikomba (3) Mash East Province and Thorngrove Hospital (2) in Bulawayo Province.