By Jasper Mangwana
Kuwadzana’s Fountain Blue suburb is fighting a serious sewage emergency that has gone on for more than ten years, with residents wondering: where is the transparency and accountability for Kuwadzana residents?
The village, which in 2016 had contributed US$120 per family towards the construction of a sewage system, still lacks functional infrastructure. Most of the families are still employing septic tanks and Blair toilets — an activity they describe as unsustainable, unhealthy, and demeaning.
Residents accuse land conflict and the alleged encroachment of stands under the Parkridge Housing Consortium of holding up their long-awaited sewage project. Part of the route of the proposed sewer line is said to already be occupied, some new stands even being built on wetlands next to a stream.
Fountain Blue Housing Scheme chairperson Tendai Mazuru, who has lived in the area since 2012, spoke out about the frustrations that many share:
We built our homes in anticipation, but now we are living with sewage flowing through our backyards. We need urgent intervention so that we don’t suffer cholera outbreaks.
The original intention was to have the Fountain Blue sewer line terminate at the Herbert Chitepo section, but the authorities later diverted it to the Mazai Sewage Treatment Works. Now, residents argue that development is being prevented entirely by the new stands of homes.
Lucia Mapfumo, another resident, shattered the cost of septic tank reliance:
“When it rains, the ground gets too wet and our septic tanks overflow in a hurry. We pay US$80 a month to have them emptied out. We built our houses in hope, but now we are living like villagers with Blair toilets in a suburb.”
According to the Environmental Management Act, disposal of sewage near water sources is prohibited. But Fountain Blue’s sewer pipe can be installed only in an open area which is close to a stream — raising legal and environmental issues.
Parkridge Housing Consortium chairperson Charles Matsika defended the plan, their positions being lawful and had already been set since 2018, further stating that efforts are made to find an alternative route for Fountain Blue’s sewerage network. But residents complain no suitable area is available and accuse the consortium of ignoring the public health risks.
In the meantime, the Harare City Council has been dodgy. Despite promises to look into the situation, spokesperson Stanley Gama has not responded for comment.
It is against this background of growing sewage clogging in Harare driven by outdated infrastructure that was only constructed to support a smaller population. But to Fountain Blue residents, the issue is not so much technical failure — it is one of failure to deliver promises, dubious allotting of land, and government quietness.
The sewage crisis facing Fountain Blue residents in Kuwadzana highlights deep-seated issues of poor urban planning, weak enforcement of environmental laws, and limited service delivery by Harare City Council. While the problem has persisted for years, practical solutions can still be pursued to prevent further public health risks and restore dignity to the community.
Immediate Government and Council Intervention.
Harare City Council, in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government, must urgently intervene by carrying out an independent technical assessment of the Fountain Blue sewer line.
Temporary emergency measures, such as communal septic management or vacuum tanker support, should be put in place to reduce household costs and health risks.
Transparent Land Audit.
A land audit of the Parkridge Housing Consortium stands must be conducted to determine whether they were legally allocated, especially those built on wetlands.
If irregularities are found, stands on the sewer line route should be repossessed or relocated, with affected homeowners compensated by the consortium or government.
Enforcement of Environmental Laws.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) should step in to ensure that no sewage system is routed near streams or wetlands.
Wetland encroachments must be reversed to prevent long-term environmental damage and ensure compliance with the Environmental Management Act.
Community–Developer Negotiation.
Fountain Blue residents and Parkridge Consortium should be brought to the table for mediated negotiations, possibly facilitated by council or EMA.
This process should explore alternative sewer routing or cost-sharing mechanisms to avoid deadlock.
Accountability and Transparency Mechanisms.
Authorities must provide regular progress reports to residents, including financial audits of the money collected in 2016.
The Harare City Council should establish a community liaison desk for affected suburbs to ensure that residents are consulted and updated on infrastructure projects.
Long-Term Infrastructure Upgrade.
Harare’s sewage network, designed for a smaller population, needs urgent modernization. Fountain Blue’s crisis reflects the wider city problem. Government should prioritize investment in new sewage treatment works and expansion of existing systems under public-private partnerships.
Conclusion
While cholera and other waterborne disease hazards loom over their heads, the people are left with that hard question: where is the accountability and transparency for the people of Kuwadzana?