Staff Reporter

Residents of Amaveni are grappling with a persistent bedbug infestation that has thrown the community into turmoil, according to Ward 8 Councillor Makomborero Mlambo.

Speaking during a recent full council meeting, Mlambo highlighted that despite efforts earlier this year by the Kwekwe City Council to spray and eliminate the pests, the bedbugs have reappeared.

“The situation in Amaveni is chaotic because of these bedbugs,” said Mlambo. “It seems they are being spread by stray cats that have overrun the area. Earlier this year, the council indicated plans to contract Kwekwe Polytechnic to create traps for the cats, but there has been no progress, and we need answers,” he said.

In response, Kwekwe Deputy Mayor Janet Ticharunga explained the delays in implementing the trap-making project.

“We had initially requested Kwekwe Polytechnic to create prototypes of the traps, but they may have been hesitant, possibly fearing their design could be copied by our team at the council-run Muvezi Training Centre,” she said.

However, Ticharunga assured the council that the tender to produce the traps has now been officially awarded to Kwekwe Polytechnic.

“We are optimistic this partnership will help address the problem of marauding cats, which are contributing to the bedbug infestation,” she added.