Plan to clear storm water drains

30 Sep, 2022 - 00:09 0 Views

Suburban

We are just a little over a month before the rain season start. 

In light of this, we trust the City of Harare is preparing for the rainy season because at this time of the year, the municipality should be concerning itself with clearing storm water drains to prevent flooding when the rainy season eventually starts.

There has not been much activity in the suburbs in this regard and if we have missed something then we hope the city will bring us up to speed with its storm drains clearing programme.

Weather experts have predicted a normal to above normal rainfall season for Zimbabwe at different times in the different regions. Given the shortcomings that have become accustomed with our municipality, it is imperative that they inform residents about their plan to clear storm water drains and create unhindered passage for the rain water to flow into the city’s rivers and dams 

In a lot of Harare’s old suburbs storm water drains have been blocked with all sorts of litter ranging from plastic bottles, empty beer and soft drink bottles, diapers, tree logs, food left overs, soil and even human belongings as some vendors and homeless people make use of storm drains to keep their wares.

New suburbs also do not have good drainage systems putting the residents at risk of flooding. 

The roads, most of which are in a state of disrepair, will deteriorate further due to damage from rain water, if the storm drains are not cleared. 

Repaired and reconstructed roads will also be in danger of damage if the storm water drains are not cleared. 

The city authorities must prevent a scenario where the newly repaired or reconstructed roads will have to be renovated again soon after their revamp.

In the 2020-2021 rainy season, flooding was witnessed in some parts of Harare West where residents lost property while some were left counting their losses as houses and household property was severely damaged following floods. Sliding gates, garden tools and pets were also swept away.

A few years ago, serious flooding in the Borrowdale areas of Carrick Creagh and Crowhill Road also left a trail of damage to houses, security walls while cars were swept away by the raging floods.

Experts have warned about the dangers of a repeat of the 2017 flooding which was witnessed in the Borrowdale, Borrowdale Brooke and Glen Lorne areas.

Several houses along Crowhill Road were affected and residents at the time could not figure out how the floods had hit them. 

In Harare West in Ward 16, two suburbs built in recent years Matidoda and Lenana Park always suffer during the rainy season due to a poor drainage system in the area. 

These experiences call for forward thinking and being proactive on the part of the city. 

As the rain season progresses grass will be growing and strategies are needed to cut the grass on road intersections and pedestrian pathways to prevent accidents and muggings.

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