Life in the Mbare flats, in Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare, has become itchy, as residents are battling a serious bed bug invasion.
As a result, Harare City Council has declared it an emergency and made every effort to try and sort things out. The city has even got a special team in place, working under an “incident manager” with a clear plan to tackle the bed bugs, popularly known as tsikidzi.
The City of Harare takes action
The Herald reports that the city has activated its Incident Management System (IMS) and has deployed resources to contain the ‘public health nuisance’.
Since 7 April, the local authorities have been going door-to-door in the flats, spraying to eliminate the bed bugs. In a statement, the council confirmed that they’ve got a massive task ahead of them, with over 5 400 rooms needing treatment.
“We have activated our Incident Management System to effectively respond to the bed bugs. This includes the appointment of a team to lead the fight,” reads part of the statement.
Are the bed bugs spreading?
So far, the authorities have managed to fumigate 64 percent of the Mbare flats rooms, almost two-thirds of them. While it seems like Mbare is the main hotspot, the council isn’t taking any chances. The city has sent fumigators to check out other parts of the city where people have reported similar issues.
In addition to the spraying, the local authorities have initiated public education and household hygiene promotion. Some have linked the spread of bed bugs to second-hand clothing.
However, residents have been urged to participate in fumigation campaigns. Authorities have since urged them to open their homes to the spraying teams.
Have you ever experienced a bed bug invasion?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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