By Siziba Thando | Health and Environment Reporter
Friday, 8 August 2025
Residents of Sizinda and Tshabalala in Bulawayo are enduring severe health hazards due to decades-old burst pipes and overflowing sewage, with some living in these unsanitary conditions for the longest years of their lives.
A ZIM GBC News investigation revealed unbearable stenches, swarms of flies, and flood-like sewage invading homes—particularly in apartment blocks where faulty plumbing makes life a nightmare.
A Crisis Decades in the Making
Both suburbs rely on pre-independence piping systems, long past their lifespan. Reporters visited multiple households:
- Sizinda: Six homes and flats inspected, all with chronic sewage bursts.
- Tshabalala: Three households battling the same issues.
Residents unanimously agree—the pipes must be replaced entirely, not just patched up.
“No Human Should Live Like This” – Residents Speak Out
Mrs. Khumalo, who has endured a burst sewage pipe for over 20 years, shared her anguish:
“It’s not easy living like this with children. Even simple joys, like sharing a meal, are ruined by the stench and flies. No human being should live like this.”
In Sizinda flats, sewage from upper floors floods into lower-level homes whenever toilets are flushed. One frustrated resident said:
“We fight with neighbors over toilet use. We’ve begged them to stop flushing, but where else are they supposed to go? Imagine sewage backing up into your own home every time someone upstairs uses the bathroom.”
Mr. Dube, a resident with three burst sewage pipes, condemned the city council’s inaction:
“I’ve reported this for years—even called the mayor’s office. Once, a city worker came in flip-flops, looked at the mess, and left without fixing anything. How is this acceptable?”
Community Forced to Take Matters Into Their Own Hands
In Tshabalala, residents are risking their health to fix problems the council ignores:
- Coach Phiri and his team dug trenches to stop sewage from flooding a children’s soccer pitch.
- Another resident built a makeshift drainage system to redirect sewage gushing like a “fountain” from broken pipes.
“The council keeps doing temporary fixes,” he said.
“The money wasted on band-aid solutions should fund a whole new pipe system.”
Empty Promises, No Action
Residents say the council only offers reference numbers—not solutions.
“I got a reference number ages ago. Still waiting for real action,” one said—a sentiment echoed across both communities.
Health Risks: A Ticking Time Bomb
Living near raw sewage exposes residents to:
✔ Infections & diseases (typhoid, cholera, respiratory illnesses)
✔ Long-term health damage from constant exposure
Council Failure: Who Will Fix This?
The city council and mayor have failed to act, forcing residents to do the council’s job themselves—a dangerous and unsustainable solution.
Urgent pipe replacement—not temporary fixes—is the only way forward.
Zim GBC News | Global News From An African Perspective©2025