Budiriro sewer deaths: Three Harare council officials denied bail
Budiriro sewer deaths: Three Harare council officials denied bail
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Three City of Harare officials have been denied bail after appearing in court on Monday, 15 June 2026, facing culpable homicide charges linked to the Budiriro 3 sewer pit incident in which three people died.
According to court submissions reported by Pindula News, the three deaths occurred earlier this month when people fell into an unsecured sewer manhole and drowned.
Engineer Richard Tapiwa Kunyadini (58), the acting director of Harare Water, also appeared in the matter on behalf of the City of Harare following a council resolution dated 12 June. The court heard that Kunyadini was not remanded in custody after arguing that the City of Harare, as a legal entity, cannot be remanded in custody.
The three accused remanded in their personal capacities are Moses Dicko (57), superintendent for Region Three covering Budiriro, Glen View, Mufakose and Marimba; Tineyi Chihwai (41), a Class One plumber; and Thomas Rwakatiwana (52), a works foreman.
Prosecutors opposed bail, alleging gross negligence and telling the court that the sewer pit had reportedly been left uncovered for about five months. The State alleged the excavation was made in February 2026 while attending to a sewer blockage and was not secured after the work was completed.
The court heard the opening remained exposed until 7 June, when three people fell in and drowned.
The State also argued that releasing the accused could undermine public confidence and could put their safety at risk due to public anger over the incident.
The three officials were remanded in custody and are expected back in court on 29 June as investigations continue.
While the incident occurred in Harare, it has renewed wider public concern across Zimbabwe about maintenance of sewer infrastructure and the marking and securing of hazardous sites in high-density suburbs.
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