Bulawayo suburb residents 'live like animals'

Mabutweni suburb in Bulawayo, affectionately known as Number 2, is easily one of the most forgotten suburbs in the city.

Infrastructure in the suburb lies desolate and almost derelict.

As one of the oldest suburbs in the city, a population boom has been harsh on the township, as growing numbers have not been met by a corresponding development in amenities.

Residents are forced to share communal toilets, most of the malfunctioning, raising the spectre of a disease outbreak.

"My son, the situation here is pathetic and I cannot find the words to tell you how we are living," a desolate elderly woman, who preferred anonymity, said.

"As many as eight families can share a single toilet and shower, which sometimes don't work, but the problem is that this has been going on for so long it seems futile to talk about it.

"It's painful all the same."

Thomas Ndou, another elderly resident, said there was very little prospect that their plight would be addressed.

"We have been talking and talking about this to no avail, some very influential people have even promised to help but up to now we are still in the same situation and the worst problem is that we are now used to living like this – so you will not hear us make much noise about it – which is not good by any standard," he lamented.

Earlier this year Home Affairs deputy minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told the National Assembly on behalf of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing minister, Ignatius Chombo that Mabutweni and Iminyela were earmarked for "urban renewal".

However, residents say as the year nears its end nothing has been done to that effect. The Mabutweni dwellings are semi-detached two roomed houses, with all of them sharing a toilet, shower and tap, which are located outside.

Most families have a minimum of five people, meaning at least 20 people share a single toilet, shower and tap.

Laundry and dishwashing also pose a challenge to the residents, as they have to queue at the single tap and give each other turns to collect water.

With the rainy season underway, there is a lot of surface runoff and mud, posing another health hazard.

"It's as if we are animals, the structures are mostly dilapidated and since we share facilities, no one is willing to fund repairs or improvements," Ndou said.

"That means we have to literally use the toilet and close our faces with jackets because most doors have been destroyed.

"It is nearly impossible to visit the toilet at night because we are at risk of being attacked, women raped or thieves gaining access to your house while you relieve yourself."

Another resident concurred with Ndou, saying the situation on weekday mornings was particularly embarrassing.

"Right now there is not much activity, you should come during weekday mornings and see the queues of people jostling to bath in preparation for the day,"he narrated.

"Fathers, mothers and children will all be at the same level and it is so degrading."

Some of the toilets around Mabutweni are not working and residents said they usually hunt for working ones, increasing pressure on the already overloaded facilities.

"Although they are supposed to be residential facilities these are practically public toilets because of the traffic at any one time," Judith Nkomo, a resident, said.

"Imagine how difficult it is to even think about visiting such toilets, where men, boys – our children – can just barge in while you are practically nude."

Nkomo expressed dismay at the Bulawayo City Council's lethargic attitude to the suburb after it introduced an ownership, scheme where residents assumed possession of and could develop the houses including setting up extra sanitary facilities.

"Most of the breadwinners around here are pensioners with little income and expecting us to build toilets or fix them when they are not functioning is very taxing because we don't have the money," she said.

Adam Moyo, who leads a non-aligned residents group, said there was need for authorities to take responsibility and assist the people in his area.

"I can take you round all the houses here and you will see the same situation everywhere, this problem needs to be addressed as a national matter because it has health risks attached," he said.

"This is not an issue which can be solved at a local level by our councillor because he lives within our midst and would never abandon us.

"However, to address such an issue it requires government intervention." Mabutweni councillor, Lot Siziba, said he was working on programmes to alleviate the problems and would be holding a meeting with residents to discuss progress.

"If people are complaining and saying nothing is being done, they are lying and there are people who want to hijack the progress we have made so far," he said.

"Come for the meeting on Sunday and you will hear what homeowners have to say, because some people are out to steal properties through raising unfounded concerns."