TWO workers at a private waste disposal firm in Harare died of suspected chemical poisoning along Mukuvisi River yesterday morning.
By Silence Charumbira
The two, a truck driver and his assistant, are suspected to have died of suffocation while disposing of waste at a manhole located near Houghton Park along the river which feeds into city’s main water source, Lake Chivero.
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Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident saying the bodies were taken to Harare Central Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
According to eyewitnesses, the duo had come to clean the tanker early in the morning when disaster struck.
Regai Muchenje, a basket weaver who works close to the manhole, said he arrived at the site at around 6am and found the driver of the truck on top of the tanker.
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“I actually called out to him and he responded and a few minutes later when I looked in the direction, I did not see him. Something told me there was something wrong and I looked around the truck, but failed to find him,” Muchenje said.
“I then climbed onto the tanker and that is when I saw both men lying facing upwards.
“What I noticed is that they had not opened both the tanker’s lids which is the norm. Normally when they are cleaning out sludge from the tanker they open both lids so as to allow gas to escape,” he said.
A resident in the area said they were disturbed by the accident and called for strict measures to be taken to make sure waste dumping is done within the confines of the law.
“They must have come here that early evading council because they should make a payment to council so sometimes they come before council starts work or after hours,” said the resident who refused to be named.
