Budiriro deaths renew scrutiny of Harare Council safety record

The deaths of three residents in Budiriro after they fell into a sewage-filled swamp have reignited concerns over safety standards at the City of Harare and renewed scrutiny of the leadership of Mayor Jacob Mafume.

The victims' bodies were recovered from an unmarked and unsecured pit in the high-density suburb, prompting allegations that the local authority failed to properly barricade or warn residents about the danger.

The latest incident brings to eight the number of deaths linked to City of Harare operations over the past 10 months.

In August last year, two council employees died at a sewer treatment facility in Glen View after reportedly inhaling toxic substances while on duty.

Three months later, another three workers lost their lives at Morton Jaffray Water Works after entering a decomposed water clarifier where they were overcome by toxic gases.

Following the Morton Jaffray fatalities, Mayor Jacob Mafume pledged to institute a Commission of Inquiry amid accusations from workers and residents that council negligence had contributed to the deaths.

After the Budiriro incident, Mafume again promised investigations into the circumstances surrounding the latest fatalities involving residents who reportedly fell into a trench left uncovered by council workers.

However, the mayor's assurances have been met with scepticism from residents and civic groups, who argue that repeated promises of investigations have yet to produce visible results or accountability.

The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) said the Budiriro deaths were not an unavoidable accident but reflected systemic failures within the local authority.

"We do not accept the word ‘tragedy' as sufficient to describe what happened. A tragedy implies fate. What occurred in Budiriro 3 is the direct consequence of institutional negligence, a culture of impunity, and the City of Harare's sustained failure to protect the very residents it is mandated to serve," the organisation said in a statement.

The residents' group noted that the incident was part of a broader pattern of safety concerns linked to council operations.

Questions have also been raised over the outcomes of previous investigations into fatalities involving council workers, with critics arguing that the public has not been informed of any disciplinary action or reforms arising from those incidents.

Across Harare, residents have repeatedly complained about open trenches, excavation sites and other hazardous areas allegedly left unattended or inadequately marked by council workers.

The HRT further accused the local authority of failing to comply with basic occupational and public safety standards.

"The City of Harare is still failing to uphold minimal compliance with the safety and security of residents and its workers.

"The workers' representatives have reportedly been bought into silence and no longer represent the workers' interests. The workers' representatives must look at themselves and evaluate their utility. The workers' representatives must look after the workers and residents of Harare," the statement said.

The Budiriro deaths have renewed calls for stronger safety measures, improved supervision of public works projects and greater accountability from city authorities to prevent further loss of life.