HARARE, Jun 9 (NewsDay Live) - The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) has accused the local authority of negligence after three Budiriro residents fell into an unsecured sewer drainage pit and died in separate incidents.
The deadly pit, according to police investigations, had allegedly been left open by council workers carrying out sewer repairs in the area.
In a statement, HRT said the latest deaths were not an isolated incident but part of a long-running safety crisis that has claimed several lives in recent years due to the city's failure to secure excavation sites.
"The pattern is undeniable. The negligence is systemic. And the consequences are fatal."
The HRT said in 2024, a child died after falling into an open sewer line in Dawnview, opposite Crowborough residential area. The body was later recovered at the Crowborough Sewage Treatment Works.
Another resident, Clara Ngombengombe from Mbare sustained severe injuries after falling into an open trench left uncovered by council workers repairing a sewer pipe.
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In September last year, two council employees reportedly died of suffocation while carrying out sewer pipe repairs without adequate protective wear.
The residents body noted that most residential areas were littered with uncovered trenches which posed great risk mostly to children.
"We demand a full investigation into the circumstances under which three people lost their lives in an excavation that should never have been left open, unmarked, or unsecured," HRT said.