News / National
Khothama vendors turn alley into Poop Avenue
06 Jul 2018 at 02:02hrs | Views
RESIDENTS at the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) owned flats Parkhurst and Lyndhurst are accusing Khothama informal traders of pooing and urinating at the alleys of their flats.
The flats are located at 8th Avenue and corner of Samuel Parirenyatwa Street.
Residents who spoke to this publication indicated that they put up with the stench from the poo and urine on a daily basis.
"We are fed up with these people (informal traders) because they do not respect us, they just poo in the alley and urinate and we have to endure the stench," said a tenant who preferred anonymity.
One male resident who only identified himself as Sibanda said: "At times our little children step on the poo or urine, as a result we fear they might contract diseases. If this problem continues unattended typhoid and diarrhoea could break out."
Sibanda went on to say they now avoided standing by the window because they could see a woman or a man relieving herself or himself.
"During weekends we will be relaxing at home and now we avoid standing by the window as we could see a woman or a man relieving themselves," he said.
Sibanda said they had reported the matter to council and police but nothinghas been done to date.
"When we report the matter to city council police they turn us away and say we have to report to ZRP," he said.
In separate interviews informal traders blamed the city authorities.
Mercy Mpofu said: "There are no free toilets here and there is only one toilet but we have to pay 50 cents to use it. Sadly we do not make much, that is why we opt to use the alley."
Mbuso Moyo said: "City council authorities are to blame because they should have availed toilets for us but now they accuse us of pooing or urinating in the alleys."
However, Bulawayo City Council Mayor Martin Moyo blamed the informal traders.
"It is a sign of mischief and lack of respect on the part of traders who poo and urinate in the alleys of the flats. There are two free toilets and they should use those," said Moyo.
The flats are located at 8th Avenue and corner of Samuel Parirenyatwa Street.
Residents who spoke to this publication indicated that they put up with the stench from the poo and urine on a daily basis.
"We are fed up with these people (informal traders) because they do not respect us, they just poo in the alley and urinate and we have to endure the stench," said a tenant who preferred anonymity.
One male resident who only identified himself as Sibanda said: "At times our little children step on the poo or urine, as a result we fear they might contract diseases. If this problem continues unattended typhoid and diarrhoea could break out."
Sibanda went on to say they now avoided standing by the window because they could see a woman or a man relieving herself or himself.
"During weekends we will be relaxing at home and now we avoid standing by the window as we could see a woman or a man relieving themselves," he said.
Sibanda said they had reported the matter to council and police but nothinghas been done to date.
"When we report the matter to city council police they turn us away and say we have to report to ZRP," he said.
In separate interviews informal traders blamed the city authorities.
Mercy Mpofu said: "There are no free toilets here and there is only one toilet but we have to pay 50 cents to use it. Sadly we do not make much, that is why we opt to use the alley."
Mbuso Moyo said: "City council authorities are to blame because they should have availed toilets for us but now they accuse us of pooing or urinating in the alleys."
However, Bulawayo City Council Mayor Martin Moyo blamed the informal traders.
"It is a sign of mischief and lack of respect on the part of traders who poo and urinate in the alleys of the flats. There are two free toilets and they should use those," said Moyo.
Source - bmetro
