by Rudo Saungweme
Minister of Local Government, and Public Works and National Housing, Cde July Moyo has issued a press statement on the progress and measures being undertaken by the Government of Zimbabwe in curbing the Cholera/Typhoid outbreak in Harare Metropolitan province and other affected areas.
Cde Moyo in his press statement mentioned the progress that has been made following President Emmerson Mnangagwa`s declaration that the Cholera outbreak is a state of disaster on 12 September 2018. Some of the progress is as follows:
According to Cde Moyo, progress made so far include; repair of major burst sewer pipes in Glenview, Budiriro and other suburbs, decommissioning of contaminated water sources (shallow wells and borehole), intensification of education, awareness and cleaning up programmes using volunteer anti-litter members.
The Government has also engaged partners who are providing safe water using bowsers at targeted places. USD 6.7 million has been released for urgent health related needs and those of the city of Harare`s infrastructural requirements.
The minister also outlined the measures being pursued by his ministry in curbing Cholera outbreak. He indicated that his ministry will decongest the Central Business District. In his press statement, minister Moyo said, “It has become imperative that all types of vending be banned with immediate effect.”
This measure saw the vendors moving away from the Central Business District going to their designated areas during the weekend.
In addition, the minister said treasury had set aside $500 000 for kick-starting the clean-up campaigns which would be targeting the selected Harare suburbs and the 23 Cholera hotspots.
The Cholera outbreak in Harare has so far claimed the lives of more than thirty people with the recorded cases reaching 5 463. The Government has set up a crowd fund team which saw a number of stakeholders contributing. Zimbabwe’s largest provider of telecommunications services, Econet Wireless channelled USD10 million whilst Zanu PF Youth League is set to deploy fifty youths in Glenview and Budiriro areas to assist the authorities in educating residents on how to combat Cholera and Typhoid.
