Harare residents have expressed concern over raw sewer flowing in the streets saying this could result in the spread of typhoid, recently reported in Mbare.
Harare is battling against obsolete sewer pipes that are resulting in raw sewage discharging into streets every day.
With Typhoid remaining Zimbabwe’s biggest threat with the country recording 2160 suspected cases in 2016, this is scaring Harare residents who believe the city’s health situation cannot contain an outbreak.
“It is now scary, we cannot let our children go and play outside because sewer is flowing everywhere,” said a Budiriro resident only referred to as Mai Mabhena.
Another Budiriro resident, Tonderai said raw sewage flowing in the streets is causing severe headaches and discharging stinking odor, forcing everyone to stay indoors.
Meanwhile, Health minister David Parirenyatwa on Tuesday blamed City of Harare charging that they are sleeping on duty as typhoid continues to spread its wings in the capital, where it has claimed two lives during the festive season.
“Typhoid is purely caused purely caused by poor hygiene practice in the city and no matter what we do as ministry, we fail,” he said.
Meanwhile Ministry of Health and Child Care in partnership with Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing and Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate toured the affected areas to assess the situation.
Typhoid remains a health threat in Harare with the city recording a high number of cases in 2012. 2008/9 period also in 2014 and the cholera in the horrific incidents of 2008 t0 2009 cholera outbreak which claimed many lives.
