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Sewage a blessing in disguise
Robert Tapfumaneyi, Community Radio Harare (CORAH)
February 01, 2013

Over the years, Harare residents have been fighting with the city fathers to have burst sewage pipes repaired but no one seem to have taken heed of their calls as raw sewage continue to flow in the streets.

However, some residents in suburbs such as Budiriro and Glen View have now resorted to using flowing sewage from burst pipes to their advantage, by using it to water their gardens.

A visit to the area by Talking Harare showed many residents are running thriving vegetable gardens using sewage to water their crops and vegetables.

"We have dug some tunnels that divert untreated sewage water to our vegetable gardens and as you can see our vegetables are growing well and business is booming," answered Shepherd Pasipamire of Budiriro 1.

He added that he is now selling fresh vegetables at the local shops and his customers are not aware of where he gets his water for gardening.

Gibson Magama of Glen View 3 says human manure has solved their problems by turning their challenges into profits. "Water problems in our suburb have been going on for years and most houses do not even have small gardens at their houses. This is a blessing in disguise so to speak because now we can look after our families," said Magama.

Vegetable customers interviewed at Makomva Shopping Centre in Budiriro said they are not aware that the vegetables are irrigated with sewage water.

"What I know is that the vegetables are very fresh regardless of where they are coming from," said one customer who refused to be named.

Sewer and water pipes burst in the city have been a problem for years, with the city fathers blaming the growing population for the bursts.

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