Zanu-PF councillor under fire for Mbare flats neglect

Residents of Mbare flats in Harare have expressed anger at Zanu-PF Councillor Simbarashe Chanachimwe, accusing him of neglecting their pleas for the renovation of colonial-era hostels, which are now in a state of serious disrepair.

Matapi and Matererini hostels, home to hundreds of families, face severe sanitation challenges. Blocked and non-functional toilets are rampant, with only one working toilet often shared by more than 20 people. Water scarcity further worsens living conditions, forcing some residents to bathe in their rooms.

"The biggest problem that we are facing in Mbare is sewage. The pipes are run down," said Memory Alfanet in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com. "We do not have safe drinking water. Our councillor has done nothing for us. I am actually afraid of talking to him. To think that he is the same councillor that we used to interact with surprises us. He is aware of these challenges. He used to live in these flats. When he made money, he left the hostels. He says nothing; he only passes through."

In 2024, the High Court ordered the City of Harare to renovate the flats to meet acceptable living standards, but the council has yet to implement the ruling. Last year, city authorities appealed the judgement, a move residents see as an indication of their lack of commitment to upgrading the hostels.

Residents accuse Chanachimwe, popularly known as Dhama, of turning a blind eye to their plight. "The situation has been ongoing for a very long time. Some houses do not have electricity. The councillor has been useless. We are now appealing to the government to assist us," said resident Lucky Chibarinya.

Attempts to reach Chanachimwe for comment were unsuccessful, with no response received by the time of publication. The deteriorating conditions highlight the growing frustration among residents over poor service delivery and unfulfilled legal directives.