Mbare, one of Harare’s oldest suburbs, is facing a severe water and sanitation crisis as deteriorating infrastructure leads to widespread sewage leaks, endangering both residents and the environment. A visit to the popular suburb’s Nenyere and Matapi hostels shows aging pipes, some dating back to the colonial era, are in a state of disrepair, causing raw sewage to spill into streets and children playing areas.
The once vibrant community now contends with the daily reality of foul-smelling effluent seeping through cracks in ancient sewage systems. In an interview, residents said the situation has been exacerbated by a lack of regular maintenance and investment in new infrastructure.
“We live in constant fear of disease, the smell is unbearable, and our children are getting sick. We have reported this countless times, but nothing changes,” said Farai Machipisa of Nenyere Flats. Community health workers in the suburb warn that the conditions in Mbare are ripe for outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and has impacted the nearby Mukuvisi river.
“The presence of raw sewage in residential areas is a public health emergency. Immediate action is needed to prevent a major health crisis. The environmental impact is equally troubling, raw sewage continues to flow into Mukuvisi river disrupting ecosystems and making parts of the suburb uninhabitable. The river is now a sewage channel,” said Charlotte Dube, a community health worker
Despite the obvious risks, municipal responses have been slow and inadequate. Efforts to replace or repair the outdated infrastructure remain elusive despite several reports by residents.
“We pay rates and rents and we are humans and deserve better services but with this kind of treatment we end up not paying. Our children deserve to grow up in a safe and healthy environment,” ,” said Tatenda Nyamukapa, a resident
