'10 years without running water'

A healthy hazard is looming in Bulawayo's Cowdry Park where residents have gone for almost 10 years without running water as council is demanding that they meet the cost required.

Bright lights and running water, the hallmarks of a suburban life, remain a distant dream for those living in Cowdry Park.

After several years of being landlords, the spoils of urban life are yet to catch

Blair toilets are still being used in Cowdry Park, posing a healthy risk considering the increase in the number of people in the area.

Some such as Gogo Karanda can not even afford building the blair toilet and have resorted to using buckets.

Others use some houses still under construction for ablution facilities.

According to the residents, meetings with city authorities have not yielded much as council is demanding US$3 000 per household for them to get running water.

Bulawayo Deputy Mayor, Gift Banda said the council does not have money to service the Cowdry park houses, citing that each household has been asked to contribute US$50 per month towards the servicing of the stands.

Besides not accessing running water, the residents have to fight running battles with rangers from the city council when they are in search of firewood.