By Ngoni Shumba.
MUTARE, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – Mutare City Council has been accused of playing Russian roulette with diahorreal disease out breaks by refusing to collect refuse in some sections of the city in spite of billing residents sewer and refuse collection charges under the excuse that they are yet to be officially handed over to the local authority by private land developers.
However, responding to accusations by Destiny of Afrika Network (DANet) Manicaland projects chairperson, Wilson Masokowere that council was not collecting refuse in its Natview Park suburb because it was still under the custody of the private land developer acting Town Clerk Donaldson Nyatoti blamed the residents of blocking roads with their building materials making the roads impassable.
“I’m informed by the responsible officers that the area is being left out because the roads are impassable due to building materials being hipped all over and in certain points blocking roads,” Nyatoti said after some enquiries.
Masokowere had noted that the local authority was gambling with the city’s health by failing to offer services which they were charging residents for risking disease outbreak as some residents are resorting to dumping waste directly into the nearby Sakubva River.
Litter in Sakubva river (picture by Ngoni Shumba)
“Council is charging our members all rates like everyone else in the city including for sewer and refuse but refusing offer the service by claiming that we are yet to officially handover the suburb to council which is illogical if they are already billing our members. The waste includes disposable nappies which have a huge potency in triggering disease outbreaks,” Masokowere said.
“Some people are now dumping their waste directly into Sakubva River causing environmental pollution.”
Masokowere whose organisation has been forced to supplement the ailing local authority’s mandate to provide infrastructure and amenities had even built a bridge in the area which council had responsibility to and a 50 000 litre water facility in Dangamvura as the cash strapped council struggles to meet its obligations.
He said they were also considering buying and installing electricity facilities for ZESA to quickly connect its sprouting suburbs as the parastatal was struggling and could take years if waited on.
“Government is struggling. We are considering buying our own cables, transformers and everything and only invite ZESA to make the connections rather than waiting for it which could take years,” Masokowere said.
DANet founder and president Obadiah Musindo said his organisation was enjoying unparalleled success in housing the poor and plans were afoot to expand into the SADC region.
“We have a model that works and we are planning to expand to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and other countries with similar projects,” Musindo said.
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