Several houses in Chitungwiza have been flooded this season
after heavy rains due to poor drainage.
In an urgent chamber application filed at the Harare High
Court, Daniel Tapfira and Emmerson Shereni Ndokwani argued that government’s
failure to ensure Chitungwiza had a proper drainage system violated their
constitutionally guaranteed rights .
Tapfira and Ndokwani cited Chitungwiza Town Council and
Moyo as first and second respondents respectively.
They are seeking an interim order forcing government and
the Chitungwiza municipality to maintain, repair and install a functional water
drainage system in the town.
The duo want particular attention paid to areas that
include Seke’s Unit N Extension, Unit G, Unit A and Unit B.
Tapfira and Ndokwani said because of government’s failure
to maintain, repair and/or install a functional drainage system, they were
victims of flash floods that hit the town last month.
They said the drainage system in Chitungwiza was in a state
of disrepair with the storm water drains covered with dirt or grass and in some
cases, council neglected to maintain or even install a functional drainage
system.
“My house is on a corner stand and the storm water drain
pipes and bridge near my house have collapsed due to lack of maintenance by
council,” Tapfira said.
“When we experience heavy rains, the surface runoff water
collects in the broken storm water drain, which is adjacent to my house and
cannot be channelled anywhere as the pipes are broken.
“The water, therefore, accumulates into my yard and into my
house.” On January 30, Chitungwiza council attributed the flash floods to
illegal construction on wetlands, stream banks and waterways.
But Tapfira said council’s claims were untrue, claiming he
did not experience any flooding until the drainage pipes collapsed. Standard
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