RESIDENTS of Cowdray Park’s section one in Bulawayo are grappling with a worsening sewage crisis as repeated blockages expose families to raw effluent posing serious health risks.
Wastewater is flowing into homes and yards, leaving families living in unbearable conditions marked by foul smell and a growing fear of disease outbreaks.
The crisis highlights the broader collapse of ageing sewer infrastructure in parts of Bulawayo, where decades-old systems are struggling to cope with rapid population growth, poor maintenance and limited municipal resources.
Residents’ representative Michael Ndlovu said the problem persisted for years despite interventions by the Bulawayo City Council.
He attributed the crisis to an ageing and overburdened sewer system, worsened by infrastructure deterioration, population pressure and improper waste disposal.
“Week after week, residents are forced to endure recurring sewer outbursts caused by persistent blockages,” Ndlovu said.
“While reports are made promptly and response teams are dispatched, the problem keeps returning shortly after each intervention, showing a systemic failure.”
He warned that residents risk contracting waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, describing the situation as a public health emergency.
- Uproar over census figures
- Byo Arts Festival in turmoil…One year later, festival has yet to pay artists…Organisers play cat and mouse with artists
- Bulawayo struggles to clear housing backlog
- Council acts tough on debts
Keep Reading
Ward 28 councillor Ntando Ndlovu said the sewer blockages were caused by multiple factors, including deteriorating infrastructure, increased population pressure and improper waste disposal.
“I share the deep frustration and anguish expressed by residents. Although response teams are dispatched promptly, the recurrence of the problem points to a systemic failure that requires more than temporary clearing,” Ndlovu indicated.
He confirmed that more than 40 households have been affected, adding that he visited some of the homes, describing the conditions as “dire and unacceptable”.
“This is not just an inconvenience; it is a serious public health hazard exposing residents to diseases such as cholera and typhoid,” he said.
The situation in Cowdray Park is the latest in a long-running sewage crisis in Bulawayo, where most of the city’s sewer infrastructure was installed over 60 years ago. It was not designed to serve the current increased population.
The system has been deteriorating due to age, lack of maintenance amid severe financial constraints at the cash-strapped municipality.
In recent years, several suburbs, including Nkulumane, Emakhandeni, Pumula and Magwegwe, have experienced sewer bursts.
The Bulawayo City Council has repeatedly lamented lack of foreign currency to import critical spares and chemicals for water and sewage treatment.
