By Virginia Njovo
Masvingo City Council has assured residents that council was fully prepared to deal with tsikidzi (bedbug) outbreak in its locality as the menace is spreading from Harare to other cities.
Msvingo City Director of Health and Enviromental Services Suzanne Madamombe said this while responding to questions, on the local authority’s state of preparedness in case of an outbreak, during a press conference held at the town house on May 8, 2025 where she assured residents that the likelihood of a bedbug outbreak in the city was low since it was clean, has efficient water supply as well as refuse collection systems on track.
“As a city we are well prepared. Tsikidzi is a sanitation borne disease meaning bedbugs usually manifest where there is no hygiene. In Masvingo we are proud to say that we have adequate water supply, our residents have water for doing their laundry as is required. The city’s hygiene is up scaled,” said Madamombe.
Madamombe emphasized the city’s preparedness for any potential cases, expressing confidence in their pesticide effectiveness.
“In the event that we get cases of bedbugs, we are able to spray (pesticides). A week ago we managed to respond to an incident that was reported. There is no need to panic, this infestation of tsikidzi started in 2024 so it is not a new breed that might not respond to the current pesticides that we have in stock, so in short we are quite prepared,” said Madamombe.
Mbare residents in Harare recently reported a surge in bedbug infestations, expressing frustration despite Harare City Council’s efforts to spray pesticides in response to the outbreaks.
Bedbugs are becoming a growing concern in cities worldwide and are primarily active during the night, especially between 12 am and 5 am as they seek to suck blood from sleeping humans by sensing carbon dioxide and body heat.
During feeding, bedbugs probe the skin for blood-carrying capillaries, often resulting in multiple bites. Feeding lasts about five to ten minutes, and they can go up to a week before feeding again.
Bedbugs can be found in mattresses, clothing, and luggage, leading to psychological distress, sleep issues, anxiety, and depression. Their resurgence poses a significant public health concern.
They are not just a problem in Zimbabwe but they affect families worldwide. 11 percent of French homes were reported to have been infested between 2017 and 2022 raising concerns ahead of the 2024 Olympics.
