A heart-wrenching incident occurred in Park View, Harare, when four-year-old Kupakwashe Majoka tragically lost his life last week.
The young boy was playing outside his family home when he slipped and fell into an open sewer ditch, a hazard left unattended by the Harare City Council.
The sewer ditch, left open and unsecured, proved fatal for little Kupakwashe. The flowing water swept him away, and despite desperate attempts to save him, the boy was carried off by the relentless current. His body was later discovered miles away at a treatment plant in Warren Park, ending a life filled with potential and innocence.
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The incident was brought to public attention by social media user @begottensun, who shared the devastating news and expressed outrage over the negligence that led to Kupakwashe’s death. The post read:
“This is Kupakwashe Majoka. His family allowed me to share his tragedy to highlight the negligence of the Harare City Council. An open sewer near his home became a death trap. He fell in and was swept away to Kambuzuma, and his body was found in Warren Park. This negligence is unacceptable. As a small Zimbabwean boy, Kupakwashe should never have encountered such danger. We cannot bring him back, but there will be accountability.”
The post underscored the failure of the Harare City Council to secure the open sewer, a basic safety measure that could have saved a young life. The community has been left in shock and mourning, grappling with the preventable nature of the tragedy.
Public Reactions
The tragic event has sparked outrage and sorrow among the community and on social media:
@kai_malaga: “These council guys are a nuisance. They came to our house trying to fix a burst pipe. Dug a huge hole in front of the gate, now cars can’t get inside. 😭😭😭”
@TereraiSithole: “This is a very sad story. No amount of words can sufficiently comfort the family after such a loss. Someone must be held accountable and the family should be compensated.”
@MwanaWaNyamunhu: “My condolences to Kupakwashe’s family. It’s unbelievable to read about something like this in 2024. Leadership needs to look in the mirror and demand change from within, unless we have lost our humanity.”
@Kenny_Ndlovu: “My condolences to Kupakwashe’s family. It’s unbelievable to read about something like this in 2024. Leadership needs to look in the mirror and demand change from within, unless we have lost our humanity.”
@Chef_Tkay: “Sue the guys, they have to pay and get fired.”
@MunzarajG: “We always ask this question. Why is the City Council good at opening up sewers and digging roads, and they take forever to cover these spaces? What kind of management is that?”
@Massundah: “Also, they’re being paid to leave illegal structures like that, causing thieves to flood areas like Masasa Park. In Masasa, they pretend a motor is broken, yet they’re bribed to leave it open.”
The community’s grief and anger are palpable as they call for accountability and justice for Kupakwashe Majoka.
MHSRIP
