Garwe Orders Probe Into Budiriro Trench Tragedy, Says Council Workers Face Culpable Homicide Charges

HARARE – Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has announced a formal investigation into the deaths of three Budiriro residents who drowned after falling into an open sewer trench in Harare, saying council employees responsible for leaving the site unsecured could face culpable homicide charges.

Speaking in the Senate on Thursday, Garwe described the incident as a preventable tragedy caused by negligence and poor safety enforcement at a Harare City Council sewer rehabilitation site.

"It is very disheartening and regrettable that due to negligence of duty by employees of our capital city council, City of Harare, we lost lives, and these lives were lost because people did not put precautionary measures in place to alert passers-by to avoid the area that was left unprotected," Garwe said.

The minister said authorities had engaged the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and that criminal investigations were already underway.

"This is also a result of poor enforcement by the municipal police. We had discussions with ZRP, and as we speak, action is being taken for culpable homicide for the people who were involved in this tragic loss of lives," he said.

Garwe added that independent investigators had also been brought in to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

"We've also engaged some people outside the local authority who can do a thorough investigation of what happened and, thereafter, will make recommendations for action to be taken," he said.

The minister said any decisions regarding compensation for the affected families would depend on the outcome of police investigations and any subsequent court proceedings.

"Once the ZRP has done their investigations for culpable homicide and matters go to the courts, the courts will then decide how to deal with the issues," he said.

The fatal incident occurred in Budiriro 3, where three people drowned after falling into a deep trench that had been left exposed during sewer works being undertaken by the City of Harare. According to residents, the excavation had filled with water, mud, and raw sewage, creating a dangerous and unprotected pool in a residential area. The tragedy initially came to light after a 19-year-old resident was reported missing.

Local volunteer diver Victor "Coach Rambo" Kazembe was called in to assist with the search. What began as a rescue mission quickly turned into a recovery operation after Kazembe discovered three bodies submerged in the water-filled trench. Two of the victims were teenagers from the local community.

The Budiriro disaster has sparked widespread public outrage and renewed scrutiny of safety standards at municipal infrastructure projects across Harare. Residents and civic groups have questioned why the trench was allegedly left uncovered and without adequate warning signs, barriers, or protective measures to prevent members of the public from accessing the area.

The incident has also intensified concerns over ageing sewer infrastructure, delayed maintenance programmes, and public safety management within the capital's residential suburbs. As investigations continue, families of the victims are demanding accountability for what many residents describe as a tragedy that could have been avoided through proper safety precautions. Authorities are expected to release further details once police investigations and the independent inquiry are completed.

Budiriro trench deaths