News / National
Tsvangirai blames women for clogging sewer system
07 Jul 2012 at 06:25hrs | Views
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has blamed women for clogging Harare's sewage system through their dish-cleaning habits.
Speaking at the launch of the Zero Litter Campaign and Water Conservation Strategies held in Harare's high-density suburb of Budiriro yesterday, Tsvangirai said his visit to Firle sewage works on the outskirts of Glen View last week had revealed to him that sand was the main material that clogged the works.
"How can we clog our own system?" asked Tsvangirai.
"Last week I was at the Firle sewage plant. Women, you are clogging the system with sand. There are babies and even blankets found in the sewage works. So I am asking women to do their work in a way that ensures our sytems are not clogged. Why use sand when there is Vim and Harpic (cleaning detergents)?" he said.
The campaign is a joint effort by government, the City of Harare and the Institute of Water and Sanitation Development.
The Prime Minister also attacked industries which he said were dumping toxic waste into rivers, saying they were contaminating drinking water, a practice that resulted in more money being needed to treat the water.
"We must give local authorities the mandate to arrest and fine companies that dump toxic waste into our water system. We must also find the most effective way of treating our water. Building of new dams like Kunzvi and Tokwe-Mukorsi will go a long way in alleviating water shortages."
Also present at the launch was the acting Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Joseph Made who announced that government had allocated $65 million to local authorities around the country through the 2012 Public Sector Investment Programme.
Made said the money had been broken down as follows: water and sewers $28 million, road construction and maintenance $22 million and roads and bridges $15 million.
"However, unpredictable disbursements of funds may impact on the implementation of the programme," Made said.
Speaking at the launch of the Zero Litter Campaign and Water Conservation Strategies held in Harare's high-density suburb of Budiriro yesterday, Tsvangirai said his visit to Firle sewage works on the outskirts of Glen View last week had revealed to him that sand was the main material that clogged the works.
"How can we clog our own system?" asked Tsvangirai.
"Last week I was at the Firle sewage plant. Women, you are clogging the system with sand. There are babies and even blankets found in the sewage works. So I am asking women to do their work in a way that ensures our sytems are not clogged. Why use sand when there is Vim and Harpic (cleaning detergents)?" he said.
The campaign is a joint effort by government, the City of Harare and the Institute of Water and Sanitation Development.
"We must give local authorities the mandate to arrest and fine companies that dump toxic waste into our water system. We must also find the most effective way of treating our water. Building of new dams like Kunzvi and Tokwe-Mukorsi will go a long way in alleviating water shortages."
Also present at the launch was the acting Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Joseph Made who announced that government had allocated $65 million to local authorities around the country through the 2012 Public Sector Investment Programme.
Made said the money had been broken down as follows: water and sewers $28 million, road construction and maintenance $22 million and roads and bridges $15 million.
"However, unpredictable disbursements of funds may impact on the implementation of the programme," Made said.
Source - newsday
