Masvingo Province is endowed with the country’s largest water bodies, namely Tugwi Mukosi Dam and Lake Mutirikwi as well as other smaller dams like Manjerenje and Bangala all of whose water goes to the Lowveld, Chiredzi in particular for sugar cane irrigation purposes only while the authorities are failing to treat it for domestic uses despite its abundance.
The sad situation coupled with negligence from the residents has only resulted in Chiredzi District being one of the perennial hot spots of cholera, health personnel have alluded.
Speaking to TellZim News, Chiredzi District Medical Officer Doctor Brian Dhlandlara said Chiredzi was a perennial cholera zone because people in the district drink unsafe water from unprotected water sources mainly canals that irrigate sugarcane and resort to bush toilets.
“The reason why Chiredzi is not left out when there is cholera outbreak in the country is centred on the fact that most people in the town depend on water from open water sources and also use bush toilets so people are not safe in any disease outbreak.
“The community also seem not too wary of the diseases and do not practise basic hygiene as required to prevent the spread of deadly diseases in case of an outbreak,” said Dhlandlara.
Dhlandlara said in most parts of Chiredzi there was need for provision of safe drinking water and improvement of ablution facilities.
“There is need for adequate clean water be it from boreholes or other safe water sources and good sanitation through construction of toilets to deal with human waste as a number of ablution infrastructure are no longer functional,” said Dhlandlara.
In February Mapanza community which was allegedly sharing one contaminated water source had nearly half of the village falling sick, with locals saying the spread started at a church gathering.
Mkwasine Estates and areas along Save River mostly record a number of cases compared to other areas in the district,
A make shift camp was made where cholera patients were being treated with drips hanging from trees until volunteers from the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) supported the Ministry of Health and Child Care and brought tents as well as medical supplies to save the situation.
Chiredzi East legislator Siyaki Mundungehama also chipped in and donated an assortment of goods worth US$700 including washing powder, soap, dish washing liquid and toiletries for the camp.
Mundungehama told TellZim News that he will work with other stakeholders to ensure that they curb the spread of the waterborne diseases.
“My constituency recorded the the highest number of cholera cases in Chiredzi emanating from areas like Mkwasine and Mapanza and I am going to work tirelessly to see that the fight against the disease is won,” said Mundungehama.
Mundungehama said he has since approached Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira to have two boreholes drilled at the camp.
“Most of the affected areas do not have adequate water supply so I have since approached the Minister of State to assist with a drilling rig and we expect to sink two boreholes,” said Mundungehama.
Ward 21 councillor Wellington Mudzimiri said farmers should be taken to task to repair and develop Mkwasine Estate as they have been empowered through the land reform program.
“Farmers should be taken to task to make sure that they provide better sanitation for their employees. We have been empowered by the government with land and it is up to us to make the best out of it,” said Mudzimiri.
Since the outbreak of cholera in the country after general elections last year, Masvingo recorded 2994 cases with 2879 recoveries and 71 deaths with 82 patients who were still under care with most of the active cases being found in Chiredzi District.
Tellzim
