Zimpapers Logo

Chronicle Writer

BULAWAYO was hit by heavy rain on Sunday, which exposed the inadequacy of its storm drainage system and caused flooding on the roads.

The city centre is especially susceptible to flash flooding due to blocked drainage systems, putting motorists and pedestrians in danger and causing damage to road infrastructure. 

Residents have criticised the Bulawayo City Council for its failure to address this issue, as flooding recurs every rainy season and could potentially lead to water-borne disease outbreaks such as cholera. 

The pooling of water also creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes. A Chronicle news crew witnessed people wading through flooded streets barefooted while motorists struggled to navigate through the floods. 

Winos Dube, chairperson of the Bulawayo United Residents Association (Bura), expressed concern about the inadequacy of the city’s drainage system, stating that the local authority has various department experts who could have worked to mitigate flooding before the rainy season.

“The fact that this is a recurring issue is of grave concern. We would have expected the council to have cleared the drainage system during the dry season to reduce flash floods. Unfortunately, that did not happen,” said Mr Dube.

“The flash floods are negatively affecting infrastructure. We could be sitting on a time bomb as the strengths of buildings are periodically weakened.”

Mr Dube said residents are also to blame for the clogged drainage system.

Bulawayo-United-Residents’-Association

“As residents, we are also to blame for the drainage mess. We tend to dump waste in the streets and when it rains, all that waste is washed away, finding its way into the storm drainage system,” he said.

“As Bura, we continue to appeal to residents to have a sense of community responsibility. We urge individuals to take ownership of their surroundings and actively participate in keeping the city clean.”

One resident who declined to be named said: “The majority of our drainage systems, both in the central business district and residential areas, frequently experience blockages due to litter and insufficient maintenance. We struggle to cross streets due to flash floods during the rainy season.”

The resident urged the local authority to mitigate flooding by regularly servicing the drainage system.

He added that the council should enhance its street-cleaning services and establish additional litter disposal points, as well as improve refuse collection.

“The current lack of these services has led to an increase in improper waste disposal by residents, including the dumping of waste into drainage systems,” said the resident,

Another resident said the council should have a decisive solution to this problem.

“Over the years, residents raised these concerns to the council through various channels, but there seems to be no solution in sight. I had expected the council to clear the drainage system before the rainy season,” she said.