A house in Masvingo’s Hillside suburb, owned by Clemence Chiduwa, the Zanu PF Member of Parliament for Zaka South and former Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Development, has become a stark representation of deteriorating infrastructure, with raw sewage spilling onto the property.
Chiduwa and his wife, Fungai Maregedze—who also serves as the chairperson of Zaka Rural District Council—reside at the property. However, despite their political influence, they have been left helpless as sewage continues to flood their residence, with no intervention from the local council.
The situation has worsened, with the sewage now spreading to neighboring homes, raising serious health concerns. Several residents in the area have reportedly experienced symptoms consistent with typhoid, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and fatigue.
“Many people along this street have been complaining of stomach issues, vomiting, and body weakness. Some have visited the clinic and are suspected to have typhoid. We urge the city council’s health department to address this problem urgently,” a concerned resident told TellZim News.
Masvingo City Mayor Alec Tabe, when approached for comment, stated that he was unaware of the issue but assured that the engineering department would look into it immediately.
“I wasn’t informed about the situation, but I have forwarded the matter to the engineering department, and they will attend to it soon,” Tabe said.
Local sources indicated that the problem has persisted for nearly three weeks without any action. Attempts to get a response from Chiduwa were unsuccessful, as he did not reply to inquiries from TellZim News. Instead, he redirected the questions to a journalist from another media house, who later reached out to TellZim News.
Maregedze, however, confirmed that the problem has been ongoing.
“This happens every year when it rains, and the council has failed to find a permanent solution. It has been like this for over three weeks now, and no action has been taken,” she said.
She further explained that the current sewer system was originally designed for a much smaller population. However, as the number of households has increased significantly, the system is now overwhelmed, leading to frequent overflows.
Godfrey Mutimba, spokesperson for the Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA), emphasized the need for a long-term solution.
“The city council must upgrade the sewer system to accommodate the growing population. Without proper planning, the health of residents will continue to be at risk,” Mutimba stated.
Meanwhile, Masvingo City Health and Environmental Services Director, Suzane Madamombe, reported that no confirmed or suspected cases of typhoid had been recorded in the city. She urged residents experiencing symptoms to visit council clinics for testing and medical attention.
“So far, we have not confirmed any typhoid cases. However, if anyone suspects they have the disease, they should visit any of our clinics for proper examination,” Madamombe said.
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