By Nixon Nyikadzino Disease outbreak crisis looming in Warren Park The constant and yet unwanted sewer bursts are now a cause for concern for Warren Park residents. While the City fathers stand arms akimbo without a lasting solution, residents are beginning not only to realize the dangers of the stinking sewer but the impending disease outbreak. As Zimbabwe waits for the rains, residents of Warren Park are praying that the city council quickly repairs the sewer burst pipes. The most painful incident is the flooding sewer in the water storm drain that passes parallel community borehole managed by both the Warren Park Clinic and Community committee. A senior vendor who spends his day selling drinks and snacks next to the borehole says the situation where a borehole sits to contaminated sewer is a cause for concern. “We are afraid that if rains come when the drains are full of sewer, we are likely to experience an outbreak of waterborne diseases such as Cholera and dysentery”. This borehole was once closed to the community due to contamination and due to lack of other water access points , the community had to find ways of using the same borehole , by using some chlorination pills “, says the Vendor Warren Park Ward 15 Environment Working Group Committee member, Tonderai Tembo attributes the whole sewer bursts crisis to the Council who he says are not proactive in replacing old sewer pipes that were erected in the early 80s. “These sewer pipes are now 43 years old and you can imagine how old they are now. They have overstayed their use and with the population of Warren Park having increased tenfold, these sewer pipes can no longer withstand the pressure. They simply need to be replaced in order to ease this crisis”, Mr Tembo argues. While residents point to old sewer pipes and astronomical population growth, other residents tend to differ arguing the problem is exacerbated by land barons who continue to parcel infill residential stands in cahoots with uncouth council officials. “The sewer pipes lie underneath these infills and any tampering with them by new occupiers leads to sewer bursts. We never used to experience this and Council, including the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission) ZACC) must take action against these land barons”, says Mr Terence Silumba. A meeting held between residents and Council officials recently at Magamba Hall seems to have come up with a lasting solution that is to replace all old sewer pipes with modern new ones. As the stinking sewer ravages the community, residents of Warren Park continue to pray that the recent meeting resolution is urgently implemented in its letter and spirit.