The Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, says a formal investigation has been launched into the deaths of three Budiriro residents who fell into an open sewer drain at the weekend.
Speaking in the Senate on Thursday, Garwe said council workers who left the pit unsecured will face culpable homicide charges.
“It is very disheartening and regrettable that due to negligence of duty by employees of our capital city council, City of Harare, we lost lives, and these lives were lost because people did not put precautionary measures to alert passers-by to avoid the area that was left unprotected,” said Garwe.
“This is as a result also of poor enforcement by the municipal police. We had discussions with ZRP and as we speak action is being taken for culpable homicide for the people that were involved in this tragic loss of lives.
“We’ve also engaged some people outside the local authority who can do a thorough investigation of what happened and, thereafter, will make recommendations for action to be taken.
“But on compensation issues, obviously, once the ZRP have done their investigations for culpable homicide and matters go to the courts, the courts will then decide how to deal with the issues.”
Three people drowned in Budiriro 3, Harare, after falling into a deep, mud-filled trench left exposed at a Harare City Council sewer works.
The pit had filled with water and raw sewage, leaving a hazardous, unprotected pool.
Local volunteer diver Victor “Coach Rambo” Kazembe had initially gone in to search for a missing 19-year-old man.
He ended up pulling three bodies from the water. Two of the victims were teenagers from the area.
Related:
Heads Must Roll Over Budiriro Sewer Sludge Pit Drownings – Residents Trust
Man Dies After Falling Into Open Pit Dug By Masvingo Council Workers