The situation is most pronounced in Units N, O and P of Seke, and wetland stands in Unit J/K and Manyame Park. Recently, Health and Child Welfare Minister Dr Henry Madzorera said the situation in Chitungwiza was cause for concern.
“The mode of transmission for typhoid is the faecal-oral route, that is, through ingestion of bacteria in food or water contaminated with faeces of infected persons. In simple terms, it simply means people are eating their own faeces,” he said last week.
Residents are demanding the municipality improve service delivery, despite the fact that it is facing financial constraints.
“Since we don’t have running water on our taps and sewage facilities, my husband has managed to create a soak-away tank and a well. We are living by the grace of God. The water is smelly and I think it’s not suitable for drinking, or even for laundry because it leaves stains on clothes,” said Sophia Mhaka, a Unit P resident.
She also confirmed that raw sewage overflows from Unit P’s old stands onto the streets and eventually ends up in the exposed wells, their main source of water for domestic use.
Clayton Zaranyika from Huruyadzo in St. Mary’s said the failure to deliver water and sanitation services in the new stands by the municipality has promoted the ‘bucket system’ to emerge. This is a situation whereby residents defecate in buckets at night because of lack of water to flush toilets. They end up improperly disposing of the waste, attracting flies that carry diseases from the human waste onto people’s food.
“Residents are now living in fear of contracting diseases such as cholera and typhoid. But they have no choice but to stay at houses that have no sanitation services,” said a municipal official who asked not to be identified by name.
A lasting solution to the water, sanitation and hygiene crisis in Chitungwiza is far from over as Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo is embroiled in a bruising fight with the MDC led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in order to ensure that Zanu (PF) regains its lost ground in the town.
Post published in: News