Unauthorised settlements crisis in Vainona, Belvedere

Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter

Illegal settlements continue to sprout  in Harare with the problem becoming increasingly severe especially on the Vainona wetland and near Longcheng Plaza shopping complex in Belvedere.

Residents are alarmed as these areas become hotspots for health risks due to poor living conditions.

In Vainona, illegal settlers are living in makeshift plastic shacks surrounded by raw sewage, exposing them and communities around the area to serious health hazards.

Reports from residents’ indicate that untreated sewage is still gushing from the main sewer line into the wetland, leading to a hazardous environment.

Vainona residents have expressed growing concern over the behaviour of some of the illegal settlers who are often under the influence of alcohol and drugs. According to the residents, alcohol and drug abuse often results in unpredictable and sometimes dangerous actions by the illegal settlers.

In a statement this week, the City of Harare announced that it had detected a cholera case at the illegal settlement near Longcheng Plaza in Belvedere.

“We have detected a cholera case at a squatter camp near Longcheng Plaza in Belvedere.

“The patient, a 29-year-old man has been using untreated water from a nearby stream for drinking and household purposes,” the city said.

Officials stressed that the source of the cholera outbreak is likely local, as the individual has no recent travel history.

The City of Harare has identified several factors contributing to the spread of cholera in these areas, including:

Drinking untreated borehole and well water.

Attending gatherings where hygiene may be compromised.

The presence of burst sewers in the community.

Consumption of food from unlicensed vendors.

To combat the spread of cholera, the city has urged residents to take preventive measures.

“We encourage residents to seek early treatment to prevent death.

“Treatment is free at all council clinics.

“Please avoid unnecessary gatherings and treat all borehole and well water before drinking,” reads the statement.

Cholera has been a recurring issue in Harare with past outbreaks linked to poor sanitation and inadequate access to clean water.

The city has been struggling with insufficient infrastructure and rapid urbanisation, leading to the rise in informal settlements and illegal settlements.