By Desire Tshuma
Harare – For weeks, residents of Hatcliffe suburb have been forced to live next to raw sewage after a manhole burst and spilled waste into an open field, with the City of Harare yet to respond.
Pictures obtained by this publication show a concrete manhole overflowing into stagnant pools of waste water. The site is surrounded by dry grass, litter and plastic waste. Children and residents use footpaths that cut directly through the affected area daily.
Residents say they first reported the burst to council officials and their ward councillor more than 3 weeks ago, but no action has been taken.
“We have reported this 3 times. No one is coming. We are drinking disease,” said one Hatcliffe resident. “The smell is worse in the morning. My children walk past here going to school.”
Public health experts warn that prolonged exposure to raw sewage poses a serious risk of cholera, typhoid, and dysentery outbreaks. They also caution that waste water can seep into underground water sources used by households with boreholes.
“The longer sewage sits in the open, the higher the risk of contamination. Flies, rodents and runoff spread bacteria very fast,” said an environmental health practitioner who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The situation in Hatcliffe adds to growing concerns over the collapse of sewer infrastructure in Harare’s high-density suburbs. The City has in the past blamed vandalism, old pipes and lack of funding for frequent bursts.
Efforts to get a comment from the City of Harare and the Hatcliffe ward councillor were fruitless by the time of going to print.
Community activists say the neglect amounts to a violation of the right to a clean and safe environment as enshrined in the Constitution. They are demanding urgent intervention before the rains start and spread the waste further.