Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume says the City of Harare is making steady progress in the rehabilitation of the Budiriro sewage system following a tragic incident that claimed three lives earlier this month.
Speaking during a site inspection of the ongoing works, Mayor Mafume said the council moved in to urgently address the situation after the incident, and the project is now at an advanced stage with completion expected soon.
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“We promised residents that we would act decisively, and we are fulfilling that commitment.
The works are progressing well, and we are confident that the area will soon be fully restored,” said Mafume.
He added that the rehabilitation programme is part of wider efforts by the city to improve sanitation infrastructure across high-density suburbs, stressing that maintaining a safe environment remains a top priority for the local authority.
According to the mayor, the upgraded system will significantly improve wastewater management, reduce blockages, and minimize the risk of future accidents.
“We want to assure the people of Budiriro and Harare at large that safety is our priority. These works are aimed at ensuring that such tragedies do not happen again. Once completed, this system will serve the community more efficiently and safely,” he said.
Mayor Mafume also told Hurumende News Hub that the city is committed to completing the works within the expected timeframe and ensuring that residents begin to benefit from improved service delivery as soon as possible.
He emphasized that the council is also strengthening monitoring mechanisms to ensure long-term sustainability of the infrastructure.
Present at the inspection were Minister of Local Government and Public Works Hon. Albert Mavunga, Councillor Charles “Chicago” (Ward 30), Councillor Jane Bhingari (Ward 25 and Chairperson of the City of Harare Health and Disaster Committee), along with other senior council officials.
The delegation toured the site to assess progress and evaluate the quality of ongoing rehabilitation works.
Officials on site expressed cautious optimism over the pace of progress, noting that while significant work has been completed, final touches and system testing are still underway before full commissioning.
The inspection comes in the wake of growing public concern following the fatal sewage incident in Budiriro, which exposed serious infrastructure challenges in some of the city’s high-density.
Residents have since called for faster interventions and long-term solutions to prevent similar tragedies.
City officials say continuous monitoring will be conducted after completion to ensure the system remains functional and safe for the community, while further upgrades across other suburbs are also being considered as part of broader urban renewal efforts.
