Harare residents have threatened to sue the local authority over its failure to maintain, repair and refurbish drainage systems in the capital.
In a letter addressed to acting town clerk Phakamile Moyo, the Combined Harare Residents Trust through lawyer Tinotenda Chinopfukutwa gave Harare City Council 48 hours to make necessary interventions or face court action.
Chinopfukutwa said recent rains had exposed residents to waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea because of the city’s poor drainage system.
“In light of this, we are instructed to demand as we hereby do that within 48 hours of your receipt of this letter, the City of Harare attends to the maintenance, repair and refurbishment of the drainage systems in afore-mentioned areas.”
Chinopfukutwa said the residents would be left with no option, but to institute legal action against the council if it failed to act.
“It also amounts to a breach of the City of Harare’s legal duty to take necessary measures to convey and dispose of storm water as provided in terms of section 168 of the Urban Council Act,” the letter adds.
“Consequently, many suburbs in Harare have experienced flashfloods during this rainy season and will continue experiencing such flashfloods unless the water drainage system is attended to. It is needless to state that such flooding places residents at risk of contracting waterborne diseases.”
Newsday
