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Health situation getting out of hand
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
August 21, 2007

THE Combined Harare Residents' Association (CHRA) warns of an unmitigated health disaster in Harare unless the City of Harare, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, and the Ministry of Water Resources and Infrastructural Development moves fast to intervene.

This latest warning from CHRA comes in the wake of biting water shortages and a seemingly porous sewerage reticulation system that has collapsed by all standards. In every suburb CHRA has visited in the high-density suburb in the last two weeks, sewerage is flowing in almost every two streets, creating fertile environments for the spread of water borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and dysentery, which have now become part of every day talk among residents.

In separate interviews with CHRA, residents said children are falling sick due to unhygienic living conditions. Women are having nightmares in dealing with the unfolding health disaster in various suburbs of the capital. The clinics have no drugs and the City health personnel are on strike. Plates go for days without being cleaned.

In Dzivarasekwa Brian Phiri, the Ward 39 Chairperson reported that almost 13 residents had reported illnesses related to exposure to dirty and other unhygienic conditions.

He said raw sewerage continues to flow at the intersection of Pasipanodya Street and Rujeko streets near the Poly-clinic, Gushungo Street, off Pasipanodya Street, Corner Boterekwa Street and Robert Mugabe Way and at the railway station where most residents board the 'Freedom Train'.

"The ticket seller no longer uses the small railway office due to sewerage flows," Phiri said. "From the main road, four sewerage tanks are all burst and residents no longer use the road."

In parts of Budiriro, residents have gone for three weeks without water and ZINWA has done absolutely nothing except to send in exorbitant water bills. A lady resident refused to be identified told CHRA that for the past five months they have been without decent water supplies but in the last three weeks their taps have gone dry without any explanation from ZINWA.

Other suburbs seriously affected include Glen View, Glen Norah, Highfield, Mbare Flats, Mabvuku, Tafara, Warren Park, Kuwadzana Phase 3 just opposite Dzivarasekwa High One and the rest of Kuwadzana. Reports have been partially attended to but the bursts are recurrent after a short time, implying that the sewerage piping system has collapsed.

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