Staff Writer
The Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART) has called for urgent intervention to address a prolonged sewage crisis in Zengeza 3, Chitungwiza, where a resident says raw sewage has been flowing out of homes for almost six months without a lasting solution.
In a statement dated October 21, 2026, ZNOART National Chairman Shepherd Shalvar Chikomba said the organisation had received a distressing complaint from a resident identified as Mai Kimaya, who alleged that repeated efforts to obtain assistance from Chitungwiza Municipality had failed to resolve the problem.
The situation has reportedly created unbearable living conditions for affected households, raising concerns about public health, sanitation and the safety of children and other vulnerable residents.
“ZNOART is deeply concerned that prolonged exposure to untreated sewage may expose residents to serious waterborne diseases and other infections,” Chikomba said.
He called on the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Chitungwiza Municipality and relevant public health authorities to urgently investigate the complaint and take corrective action.
According to the resident, attempts to seek assistance through visits to the municipality and telephone calls had allegedly yielded no meaningful response.
She also expressed concern over what she described as a lack of intervention by her local councillor, saying residents felt abandoned despite the severity of the problem.
Chikomba said the reported situation required an immediate response from the responsible authorities to prevent further deterioration of living conditions and potential health risks.
“Residents should not be forced to live in homes where sewage makes toilets unusable and threatens the health, safety and dignity of their families,” he said.
ZNOART called for the immediate deployment of technical teams to unblock sewer lines and repair damaged infrastructure in the affected area.
The organisation also urged public health authorities to conduct sanitation assessments, provide health education to affected households and engage residents on measures to reduce potential exposure to sewage-related health hazards.
Chikomba said authorities should provide residents with a clear timeline for resolving the crisis and ensure accountability in the handling of public complaints.
“We cannot talk about improved service delivery while residents endure raw sewage in their homes for months. Residents deserve action, accountability and a clean, safe environment,” he said.
ZNOART further called for stronger engagement between local authorities and residents to ensure that complaints about essential services were addressed promptly rather than allowed to persist for months.
The organisation said access to safe sanitation was a fundamental public health necessity and urged the responsible authorities to treat the Zengeza 3 complaint as an emergency.
Chitungwiza, like other urban centres, relies on functional sewer infrastructure to protect communities from sanitation-related health risks. Prolonged sewage blockages and leaks can contaminate the surrounding environment and expose residents to harmful pathogens.
The reported fears of diseases, including polio, require assessment by qualified health authorities. The complaint, however, does not establish that any such infections have occurred in the affected community.
ZNOART is an apex body representing residents and associations across Zimbabwe, with a focus on service delivery, community development, infrastructure, environmental management, healthcare, transparency and accountability.
The organisation said it remained committed to placing residents at the centre of development and advocating for improved service delivery across the country.