News / Local
Disease outbreak looms in Bulawayo
06 Oct 2013 at 15:27hrs | Views
BULAWAYO City Council has warned residents from illegally occupying houses with no proper sanitary facilities saying they are compromising public health, amid revelations that some residents live in houses without water and toilets in western suburbs under construction.
In a statement, Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said occupation of houses with no toilets may result in the outbreak of diseases and the spread of communicable diseases.
Mrs Mpofu said no house should be occupied before attainment of occupation certificate.
"Occupation certificates are only issued when the house has been certified fit for human habitation and the provision of toilets and water being some of the requirements," said Mrs Mpofu.
Mrs Mpofu said occupation of houses without proper sanitary facilities contravenes the city Model Building By-laws of 1977.
The economic hardships that have left millions unemployed are said to be the main contributions to residents opting to occupy houses without proper sanitary facilities.
Rentals in the incomplete houses are relatively cheap with some residents not paying rent at all.
A news crew visited Pumula South suburb where some families are living in houses the area and observed that several families in the high density suburb were staying in houses with no toilets.
Mrs Ndakaitei Mhere said: "We have been staying here for more than a year now and we have been using bush toilets and sometimes our neighbour's houses with toilets to relieve ourselves."
Another resident, Ms Siphiwe Sibanda, said she moved to the house with no running water and toilets because the rent was affordable.
"I moved here with my children after my husband passed away. We were failing to raise money for rent in houses with running water and toilets resulting in us relocating to these houses because the rent is affordable," said Ms Sibanda.
The houses owners are reportedly taking advantage of the desperate situation faced by their tenants.
"We live in incomplete houses and usually when the owners of the houses finish constructing their houses they evict us," said a tenant, who declined to be named.
Houses owners could not be reached for comment.
In a statement, Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said occupation of houses with no toilets may result in the outbreak of diseases and the spread of communicable diseases.
Mrs Mpofu said no house should be occupied before attainment of occupation certificate.
"Occupation certificates are only issued when the house has been certified fit for human habitation and the provision of toilets and water being some of the requirements," said Mrs Mpofu.
Mrs Mpofu said occupation of houses without proper sanitary facilities contravenes the city Model Building By-laws of 1977.
The economic hardships that have left millions unemployed are said to be the main contributions to residents opting to occupy houses without proper sanitary facilities.
Rentals in the incomplete houses are relatively cheap with some residents not paying rent at all.
A news crew visited Pumula South suburb where some families are living in houses the area and observed that several families in the high density suburb were staying in houses with no toilets.
Mrs Ndakaitei Mhere said: "We have been staying here for more than a year now and we have been using bush toilets and sometimes our neighbour's houses with toilets to relieve ourselves."
Another resident, Ms Siphiwe Sibanda, said she moved to the house with no running water and toilets because the rent was affordable.
"I moved here with my children after my husband passed away. We were failing to raise money for rent in houses with running water and toilets resulting in us relocating to these houses because the rent is affordable," said Ms Sibanda.
The houses owners are reportedly taking advantage of the desperate situation faced by their tenants.
"We live in incomplete houses and usually when the owners of the houses finish constructing their houses they evict us," said a tenant, who declined to be named.
Houses owners could not be reached for comment.
Source - Byo24News
