Staff Reporter
Kwekwe City Council is battling weekly sewer blockages in Mbizo 1 Extension, with Ward 1 Cllr Alex Senge blaming some residents for flushing and dumping waste into the sewer system.
Senge said council crews were being repeatedly deployed to the area to clear blockages caused by items including kitchen spoons, clothing and sanitary pads.
“Every week council has a sewer team dispatched to Mbizo 1 Extension to assist in unblocking sewer. This must stop,” Senge said.
He was speaking during a Ward 1 Feedback Meeting at Mbizo Youth Centre on Monday.
Senge said the problem was being compounded by what he described as poor waste disposal practices, including the dumping of litter and used baby nappies in bushes.
He urged residents to take responsibility for keeping the area clean and avoiding practices that could further strain the city’s sewer infrastructure.
The councillor also encouraged residents with outstanding bills to take advantage of council’s Pango’no Pango’no payment plan ahead of a planned partnership with Helcraw, which he said was expected to support the rehabilitation of water networks and improve revenue collection.
Senge warned residents that those with outstanding debts could have payments deducted from their accounts when purchasing prepaid water tokens under the new arrangement.
Meanwhile, the Ward Development Committee is compiling a database of residents aged above 70 who own houses in the ward and could qualify for rates exemptions.
“We are about to complete data collection on senior citizens above 70 years for exemption,” he said.
The meeting also heard health presentations from council officials on hygiene and chronic illnesses.
Council Health Promotion Officer Muvango Zvichauya urged residents to undergo regular medical check-ups and raised awareness on silicosis and other health conditions.
She said 17 people were admitted to Kwekwe General Hospital with silicosis in August, while five deaths were recorded during the month.
Residents also raised road safety concerns, petitioning council to improve markings at the zebra crossing along the town-Zimasco Road near Chiedza Primary School.
They said the crossing posed a safety risk to pupils who use the busy road daily.
The meeting was attended by Kwekwe mayor Cllr Albert Zinhanga, council’s Health and Environment Department, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Gender, and representatives from Chiedza Primary School.
