Sewer tank spillage in Blantyre threatens disease outbreak

A cholera outbreak and other life threatening water borne diseases are imminent to take place in Blantyre City following poor hygiene brought about by a sewer tank spillage at Blantyre Market.

A visit to the market on Tuesday discovered one sewer tank surrounded by restaurants and fast food vendor’s half open and discharging human excreta that was making its way towards the steep areas of the market.

In  an interview, Hatti Nyasulu, who runs a restaurant at the market said the tank started discharging the waste around 3 pm on Monday and they forwarded the matter to Blantyre City Council (BCC) who did not responded on time.

He said that the development has disturbed their businesses since customers are shunning their restaurants due to the bad smell and flies which have been hovering around the place since the incident occurred.

A second visit to the market in morning revealed that the tank was still discharging the human excreta and BCC had not yet attended to the problem.

Blantyre Market Chairperson, Robert Mazombe Banda confirmed that they informed BCC about the problem but the council had not responded positively.

“The report was sent to BCC but they have not yet shown up. In cases like these, they usually rush considering that this poses a threat to lives many Malawians since people eat at our restaurants here but we also sale a lot of food items to a many Malawians,” he said.

BCC Public Relations Manager, Anthony Kasunda said the council did not receive communication about the spillage at the market and were hearing it from the reporter hence will urgently look into it.

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