Harare, Zimbabwe – I could not believe this is happening in Harare in 2008, people living with raw sewage on their door steps! It’s no longer the same Harare I left a few years back. On our drive to Glen View…just after Cherima in Highfield, suddenly there was a very strong foul smell coming from the sewage in the streets and the little stream in Glen View. Covering your nose doesn’t help, you’ll probably need a gas mask, that’s how strong the smell is.
But for the residents of Glen View, it’s business as usual. Nobody seems to be bothered by the foul smell as the place is busy with market traders and forex traders. But hazvisirizvo zvavanoda (that’s not what they want).
But that’s the life in Glen View today, the same with other suburbs of Harare. Water drains are now completely filled with rubbish which Harare residents dump by the road sides. Nobody seemed to remember that last time the council collected rubbish bins. Driving from Makomva shopping centre towards Glen View 4 you will see loads of rubbish by the roads sides some of which is now covering part of the main road. In fact part some areas now resemble dump sites. It’s so sad!!
At Glen View 3 Shopping Centre, you will see queues of people fetching water from the two Wells that now provide clean water to residents around the area. Wells are now common in Glen View, Budiriro and other parts of Harare because of the dirty tape water being supplied by the Harare City Council.
Now with the rains falling in Harare, rubbish and raw sewage in the streets will be washed into these unprotected wells. People in Harare are now living by the Grace of God.
A common sight in the area is those green water tanks provided by UNICEF, at least they are trying their best to provide the people with clean water. People are being urged to boil water before use. When boiling this water (tape water) a thick green lather foams on top of the water, you can not believe this water has been purified. It’s just dirty water. You’re better off getting water from the villages…but how many can afford that.
Because most of the time their is no water…there is a big problem with toilets. People save water when they wash the dishes and when they have a bath for use in the toilets. It’s so sad!
Residents of Harare now know it’s risk shaking hands, you never know where you will get cholera. People rely on chlorine tablets to purify their water, which the city council and government should be doing.
So, why has it come to this??? Why should people live under such inhuman conditions, in Harare our once sunshine city in 2008??? Can anything be done to help the people of Harare and Zimbabwe in general??? Feel free to add your views and your comments.
Related posts:
- Welcome to the Pothole City of Harare – My Visist to Zimbabwe Part 4
- My Visist to Zimbabwe Part 3: Welcome to Harare International Airport
- Should Zimbabweans living outside the country be allowed to vote?
- Harare hit by diarrhoea outbreak
- My Visist to Zimbabwe: The humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe is far much greater than many people think!