The ongoing Typhoid mantra has attracted some interesting responses from various stakeholders. Government is calling for improved and efficient delivery of services whilst Council is on override closing down open air joints in a bid to try and stop food vendors.
However, a survey by CHRA has revealed that the on-going municipal operation has proved to be effective during the day but at night vendor’s nicodimously flock these common spots and sell their wares. CHRA maintains that efforts invested on targeting vendors will remain futile because Council continues to come up with half baked solutions that have failed to arrest the continuous outbreaks of these diseases. As we speak, in Dzivarasekwa alone, more than 200 households do not have water services because the City of Harare simply disconnected them either for nonpayment of municipal bills of lack of compliance with the decree on illegal structures.
CHRA has collected a sample of 50 names of these households and sent them to the Town Clerk for action. The operation targeting vendors shall continue to be a mythical exercise as long as residents do not have water. CHRA calls upon City of Harare to come up with a special council resolution which allows for all residents who have had their tap water disconnected to be reconnected.
Our Concerns
ü Disconnecting Tap water during a crisis is retrogressive as it serves to exacerbate the problem of communicable diseases. If the City fathers do not respond to our URGENT call we will be forced to make a court application in this regard.
ü The Council last year received a loan of USD 144 from Afrexim Bank in China ostensibly to renovate and improve water services. One wonders what has happened to the money in view of the current water and typhoid crisis. We demand that the Council account for these funds and also explain how far they have gone in improving the water situation in Harare.
ü The government has abdicated on its responsibility to guarantee the right to water. Government through the Ministry of Finance, local Government and Water must reintroduce public sector finance targeting water infrastructure development in order to curb future problems. In addition government must come up with a long Term national Strategy on Water Reticulation and Management.
ü We are informed that at least 17 boreholes in Harare are contaminated with typhoid causing bacteria yet residents continue to access water from these boreholes. We have asked the city to immediately close these boreholes and stop the spread of the disease.
Please find below a snap survey of the services available to residents together with results from water samples taken for tests by the Association.
Glen-View
Water cuts are now frequent at least twice a week
Typhoid has since spilt into Glen-View. Winding queues are common with most people reporting to be suffering from diarrheal diseases.
There has been no electricity in Glen View four since Saturday 4 February
There is a sewer burst behind the Assemblies of God church which has been unattended up to now
Refuse collection is inconsistent
Council is not following its refuse collection schedule as stated by the director of waste management in his service delivery plan for 2012.
Kuwadzana
At least 100 household have had their water supplies cut but those connected are receiving consistent supplies
The current typhoid outbreak has attacked at least 400 residents according to the ward community health club
Load shedding continues between 7pm and 8pm
Sewer burst at Kuwadzana 4 shopping centre
Refuse is now being collected
High field
Water is available
A very few diarrheal related diseases have been reported
Electricity has been going everyday in the morning for the past two weeks only returning around mid-night
Sewer burst along 156th and 155th street in Lusaka have been attended
Refuse is being collected
Hat-cliff
Water is available
No typhoid cases reported so far
electricity just goes for a few minutes or an hour then returns
No reports of sewer bursts have been made
Refuse is being collected
Mabvuku
Water is available
There are scattered cases of diarrheal diseases
Electricity comes at night after a day of no power
Kugarika kushinga housing cooperative is heavily affected by sewer bursts
For the past one and a half week there has been no refuse collection
Mufakose
Water is available
There are no reported cases of diarrheal diseases since the 21st of January
Some houses have had their electricity disconnected for the past three years
Distribution varies according to line location. Those near marimba park law density suburbs enjoy more electricity than those posed near Cherima, Mhishi area
There is a heavy sewer flow just beside dairy board complex which is acting as a breeding ground for mosquitoes which up to now has not been cleared despite the ongoing typhoid outbreak
Refuse is collected every Friday
Mbare
Water is available
None
Majoburg has had no electricity for the past two weeks
There are many sewer bursts around the market stalls of Mupedzanhamo, Siyaso, Magaba and Green market stalls
Refuse is being collected
Dzivarasekwa
There is a seriously erratic water supply. In Phase three where there are many cases of diarrhea, 1 in every 4 houses has had their tap water disconnected.
Water pressure is very low and only improves after 12 noon.
There is an outbreak of suspected Typhoid which has hit hard in Dzivarasekwa 3
Load shedding is more biased in Dzivarasekwa 1 and 3
There are a few bursts near Nyaguwa shopping centre which are being attended to by Council.
Refuse is being collected
Budiriro
There is a serious shortage of Municipal water in Budiriro with many residents resorting to digging wells which are not properly protected.
There are a few reported cases of diarrhea not exceeding 10
Electricity supply is erratic. Sometimes residents go for up to three weeks with no electricity
No sewer bursts have been reported
Refuse is being collected
Post published in: News