A diarrhoea outbreak has hit some Harare suburbs, with hundreds of residents being treated at various clinics after drinking contaminated borehole water, Harare City Council’s Health Services director Dr Prosper Chonzi said yesterday.

Failure by the local authority to give residents clean water is a violation of section 77 of the Constitution which guarantees that every person has a right to safe, clean and potable water.

Dr Chonzi said council has dispatched teams to monitor the situation in affected areas.

“There has been an increase in the number of reported diarrhoea cases in Dzivaresekwa 3 and Dzivaresekwa Extension due to water challenges,” he said.

“The diarrhoea emanated after residents consumed contaminated borehole water. Water levels are also critical and there is need of drilling more boreholes.

“At Warren Park 1 primary school, we are also investigating an outbreak, although authorities have been trying to cover up, but our officers are on the ground.”

Zimbabwe Combined Residents and Ratepayers Association president Mr McStephen Nyabvure said provision of clean water was a basic constitutional right that should be upheld at any cost.

In a statement, Harare Residents Trust said the city should protect school children at Warren Park 1 Primary School.State media