Angry residents barricade roads with huge stones and logs in Rusape

A TENSE atmosphere engulfed Rusape's sprawling Vengere high-density suburb as angry residents barricaded roads with huge stones and logs protesting over dusty red soils being used by the local authority to refill retarded earth roads.

Residents bitterly complained that for the past two weeks they had endured torrid moments of inhaling dust from the loam soils that fill their homes.

The residents, mostly elderly women and youths became law unto themselves when they reacted by barricading roads using rocks, logs, trees, scrap metals, drainage pipes and bricks among other debris. The residents said detouring link roads was a certain way to limit the amount of dust raised by cars passing through the roads.

Residents fumed that the council's poor workmanship had compelled them to a life of closing windows and doors daily to minimise pollution. They said they raised the issue with the Town Secretary, Mr Joshua Maligwa when the dusty material was being spread on the roads, but their complaints fell on deaf ears. The Manica Post crew witnessed residents from the NE, ZBS, UVE and VE sections of Vengere standing by their barricades to prevent council officials and motorists from removing them.

Houses within the vicinity of the affected roads are all in red colour. The same applies to their gardens where vegetable leaves have reddish coating. Motorists, especially mushika-shika drivers threw their full weight behind residents, saying the dust on the roads was too much and was forcing them to lose a lot of money in cleaning their cars after every visit to the affected sections. One of the residents, Mr Richard Tokanika(40), said this was the only option available to them to vent their anger against the insensitive local authority.

"We tried to engage them in a bid to end the menacing dust, but the council did not take corrective action. We had to barricade the roads to send a clear message to them that the condition it has subjected us following the use of this loam soil was inhabitable and unexpected. "There is too much dust coming from these roads such that we cannot take it anymore. We have reached that point to say enough is enough. We deserve respect," said Mr Tokanika.

"We might not be learned as those officials at council say, but being a layperson I know the difference between red loam soil (jiho) and gravel. How can the whole council connive to embarrass us by filling our roads with red soils instead of gravel? They are taking us for granted," he added. Rusape Residents Trust chairman, Mr Martin Chaburumunda, said the council was neglecting service provision and concentrating on their welfare. He also said the persons who were involved in the "red soil debacle" must be charged with incompetence. "They are just exposing themselves as incompetent people. How many litres of diesel were wasted carrying the dust?

The persons involved in this debacle must be made to pay back that fuel and be charged with incompetence.

"The road network is so poor, yet they are buying themselves expensive vehicles. They are busy firing and frustrating experienced and competent workers and these are the results. We also call upon the Environmental Management Agency to act because the amount of pollution is unbearable," said Mr Chaburumunda. Another resident, Mrs Lizzy Kaura, said they were living a hazardous life due to the dust emanating from the roads.

She said they were being forced to close windows 24/7, wash and dry clothes indoors and were in danger of contracting dust-induced ailments like influenza and tuberculosis among others.

"Can you imagine that for the past two weeks I could not open my windows because of the dust? We are now doing our laundry and drying it indoors. The dust is unbearable. Sweeping houses is now a complete waste of time and energy. Just look at that verandah," she said pointing to a dust that had coalesced on the verandah of her house.

"We closed the roads to limit the amount of dust blown into our houses. People at RTC have let us down. They have brought dust in our houses over and above chronic erratic water supply," added Mrs Kaura. Mr Charles Dube hit at council officials for the poor workmanship.

"I do not think these people have taken road engineering lessons. A road cannot be rehabilitated using this lose and easily blown red soil. They should put gravel. Who is going to meet the extra costs? It is time we stand up against this corruption as residents. It is better to stay things than do it wrongly and in an embarrassing manner," said Mr Dube.

Mr Maligwa was not available for a comment as he was said to be in South Africa on council business. The person who acts in his absence, Mr Lawrence Mushayabasa refused to comment.

Mr Mushayabasa, Ward Six councillor Clr Juliet Matope and acting engineer Govero visited the barricaded areas and were greeted with wild jeers and insults.

Clr Matope said council was going to correct the anomaly. Ward Five councillor, Clr Lyton Sithole whose area was also affected by the dust later addressed the protesters and said they were equally embarrassed by the situation.

"I have stayed in Rusape for the past 25 years and I have never seen anything as embarrassing to council like this. This is an unprecedented embarrassment and I have liaised with Mr Govero, who said they will put proper gravel on top of this red soil," said Cllr Sithole.

Rusape has been operating without a qualified engineer for the last two months following the forced departure of Eng Karl Muzandaka.