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Sibongile Maruta and Yeukai Karengezeka
Residents have blamed the cholera outbreak in Glen View and Budiriro, which has so far claimed six lives, on Harare City Council (HCC)’s reactionary approach to the provision of safe water and sanitation in different parts of the city.

The residents also pointed at sewer bursts and unattended water problems as the major drivers of cholera outbreaks, as opposed to the usual allegations that vendors were usually behind the causes.

This was said by the Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association (CAMERA), Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET) and Community Water Alliance during a Press conference hosted in the capital yesterday.

CHRA director Mfundo Mlillo said HCC was reluctant to act on reports of sewer bursts and usually cited fuel shortages as their excuse.

“Following reports from our community activists and leaders in the last three months and in the past two weeks, we have been engaging the Glen View district office to attend to sewer bursts in the areas around 71 and 72 Crescent,” he said.