Gweru residents say they fear the heaps of decomposing garbage found at various points in the city centre could become a breeding ground for cholera with the outset of rains.
When the Zimbabwean visited Kudazani Bus Terminus in central Gweru, a vendor who declined to be identified said the garbage was also affecting children who often play near the fly-infested heaps while their parents sell vegetables and other wares.
“The City is not consistent in refuse collection. This place is ever busy and now that it has started raining the garbage could be what is needed for an outbreak of diseases like cholera,” said one vendor.
A local doctor who declined to be identified said the City Council should do something about uncollected garbage. He said the garbage was an imminent health hazard as the country was expecting rains.
“We are appealing to the City Council to improve its services and curb illegal kitchens because if people get any form of infection as a result of its failure to deliver, clinics will fail to cater for them as they are short of resources said the doctor,” he said, and called on the municipality to mobilise resources to improve service delivery.
The council’s Acting Director for Health, Christopher Ruvodo, confirmed the proliferation of open kitchens operating at Kudzanai Bus Terminus and urged residents not to buy food from them.