Woman sues City of Harare over open drain fall

A 33-year-old Harare resident has taken the City of Harare to court, demanding more than US$24,000 in damages after she fell into an unmarked drainage pit and suffered serious injuries she says have permanently affected her life.

Leocardia Ngonidzashe Mandiwa filed summons at the Harare Civil Magistrates Court, accusing the local authority of negligence and failure to secure a hazardous drainage opening near Mabelreign Shopping Centre.

The incident occurred on 30 June 2025 after Mandiwa disembarked from a commuter omnibus while travelling from the central business district. Court papers state that she fell into an uncovered drain approximately 1.8 metres deep, which had no barricades or warning signs to alert pedestrians.

"There were no barricades surrounding the drain and there were also no danger warning signs… to alert road users of the hazard," she said in her court filing.

Mandiwa sustained multiple injuries, including broken ribs and a fractured rib, and says she continues to suffer severe pain. She was reportedly rescued from the drain by passersby.

A hairdresser by profession, Mandiwa says the injuries have permanently affected her lifestyle, preventing her from continuing physical exercise and limiting her ability to work. She is claiming US$24,593 in damages, covering pain and suffering, loss of income, medical costs, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Her legal representatives, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, argue that the City of Harare breached its duty of care by failing to secure the site or warn the public of the danger.

Mandiwa also claims she lost income during a six-month period when she was unable to work, as well as rental income linked to her business operations. The case is pending before the court.