Harare- St Mary’s legislator, Brighton Mazhindu, directly challenged the government in Parliament on Tuesday to provide concrete strategies to address the chronic service delivery failures plaguing Chitungwiza, specifically demanding answers on sewer blockages, the stalled Nyatsime housing scheme, and recurrent flooding.

Grilling the Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister, Benjamin Kabikira, Mazhindu focused on the public health risks from persistent sewer blockages in Zengeza 1 and St Mary’s.

In response, Kabikira acknowledged the crisis, attributing the perennial sewer challenges to a lack of consistent, reticulated water. He outlined the government’s plan to make Chitungwiza Council a water authority to improve supply and ultimately alleviate the sewer problem. He also cited the upcoming Kunzvi Dam project and the exploration of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as potential solutions.

However, Mazhindu expressed scepticism, questioning whether the council would succeed where past similar projects had failed, specifically due to the lack of a reliable water supply.

The concerns about raw effluent were amplified by Zengeza West MP, Innocent Zvaipa, who highlighted the immediate crisis of homes becoming uninhabitable. In response to this, Hon. Kabikira acknowledged past challenges, including a shortage of skilled personnel and equipment, but assured that the Ministry has since provided councils with “yellow machines” to assist with such emergencies and would dispatch them to Chitungwiza to help clear the current backlog of sewage

Nyatsime Housing Scheme: A 17-Year Wait

Mazhindu also raised the fate of thousands of beneficiaries of the Nyatsime Housing Scheme who purchased residential stands from Chitungwiza Municipality in 2007 but have yet to take occupation.

In response, Kabikira confirmed the scheme falls within land allocated to Chitungwiza but explained that setbacks arose from litigation by A2 farmers. He revealed that a joint committee established to resolve jurisdictional issues with Manyame Rural District Council is now inactive.

Despite this, Kabikira stated that the Ministry is “seized with the issue” and is working with legal functionaries to navigate the legal hurdles. He urged beneficiaries to approach both councils for verification, a point Mazhindu contested, arguing that people bought from Chitungwiza alone and should not be sent to multiple authorities.

Illegal Settlements and Flooding

Finally, Mazhindu asked about measures to address recurrent flooding in areas such as Manyame Park, often caused by houses built along the Manyame River.

Deputy Minister Kabikira said the council is prosecuting those involved in illegal developments and plans to embark on a regularization program to remove settlements from riverbanks, which he stated would alleviate the flooding problem.

The parliamentary session underscored the urgent need for action on the challenges facing Chitungwiza residents, with Mazhindu’s questions highlighting the deep frustration over years of government promises with little tangible progress.

Perrenial sewer challenges continue to be one of the Chitungwiza municipality’s challenges. Over the years, residents have endured raw sewage where in some instances, it flows inside people’s homes. The city fathers struggle to contain raw effluent posing a health risk to the dormitory town’s inhabitants.