The Bulawayo City Council (BCC), earlier in the year came out with a plan to clear all stormwater drains by September 21, 2021, in various wards around the city, ahead of the start of the rainy season.
According to council minutes for the month of September, the local authority outlined a provisional program stating that Wards 10, 14, 17, 19, 27, 28, 29 will have their stormwater drains cleaned beginning on July 27, 2021, to September 21, 2021.
“Loading of spoil was still a challenge for Community groups. Hire of trucks within their contract failed and Council trucks were only released on weekends for loading of spoil by community groups. The second batch including Ward 1 which commenced works on the 26th of May 2021 was currently rounding up works and measuring was in progress,” the minutes read.
A CITE news crew visited wards 17 and 28 to check on the progress that had been made thus far.
Ward 28 councillor Kidwell Mujuru said some of the stormwater drains had been cleared but some were still outstanding.
“Works are ongoing at areas around TM Supermarket, Mkhithika Primary School, Mahlathini Primary School and Tategulu Primary School. We hope that by the end of October the work will be finished,” Cllr Mujuru said.
Ward 17 Cllr Sikhululekile Moyo shared the same for areas around her jurisdiction.
She said some of the areas were still outstanding due to perennial sewer bursts which made the clearing of the drains difficult.
“Areas around Babambeni Primary School and Brethren Church have been cleaned while areas around Malindela Primary School have been disturbed by perennial sewer bursts,” Cllr Moyo said.
