Harare boreholes contaminated with faeces

Thirty-three percent of the 254 boreholes in Harare are contaminated with faecal matter that could cause typhoid, an official has said.

Harare City Health director Dr Prosper Chonzi said most of the affected boreholes were in the eastern and western suburbs.

"A survey by Harare Water of at least 114 boreholes in Tafara, Mabvuku, Caledonia, Hatcliffe, Budiriro, Glen-View, Warren Park, Dzivaresekwa, Highfield and other western suburbs showed that 19 boreholes were contaminated with faecal matter," he said.

He added that some of the contaminated boreholes were at well-known centres such as "kwaMereki".

Dr Chonzi said Town House was working to install chlorinators.

"We have since made installations on boreholes in Glen View. Thus, these chlorinators will purify the water before it splashes out," he said, adding that the municipality required stakeholder assistance to address water treatment concerns.

"In other words, we are simply saying that central Government should come in with 100 percent assistance."

Harare and other parts of the country are frequently hit by typhoid outbreaks owing to poor sanitation.

Over 800 cases have already been reported in the capital since the rainy season began.