HARARE, Jun. 8 (NewsDay Live) — Three people died after falling into an unguarded sewer pit left open by City of Harare workers carrying out repairs in Budiriro 3, triggering outrage from residents and raising the prospect of legal action against the local authority.
The deaths, confirmed Monday by the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA), have sparked calls for criminal accountability against council officials responsible for the excavation.
CHRA described the tragedy as a preventable loss of life caused by negligence, a view echoed by Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume, who reportedly blamed the responsible council department for the incident.
“This loss of lives is quite regrettable in the sense that it could have been avoided,” CHRA said in a statement, calling for disciplinary action against those responsible and compensation for the affected families.
The tragedy is likely to expose the City of Harare to compensation claims from bereaved families, possible investigations by oversight bodies and heightened political pressure over its handling of public infrastructure and safety standards.
The City of Harare had not issued a statement on the incident by the time of publication.
CHRA said the Budiriro deaths were symptomatic of broader failures within the local authority, citing numerous unattended excavations across the capital that continue to endanger residents.
“It reflects the rot within the City of Harare, where open pits that pose a danger to lives have become the order of the day,” the association said.
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The residents’ body said it would engage the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to investigate what it described as a recurring pattern of council negligence that has resulted in deaths and injuries.
The association said accountability should extend beyond internal disciplinary measures and include an examination of whether council officials responsible for the works could face civil or criminal liability.
CHRA also urged residents and affected families to report hazardous infrastructure and open excavations, saying it would intensify efforts to pressure the council into addressing public safety concerns.
The incident is expected to deepen scrutiny of Harare’s service delivery failures at a time when the council is already facing criticism over deteriorating roads, water shortages, sewer bursts and waste management challenges. The deaths are likely to intensify demands for greater accountability from city officials and elected councillors charged with safeguarding public welfare.
