Most Bulawayo public toilets closed

AT least half of public toilets operated by the Bulawayo City Council in the Central Business District have been closed over the years due to lack of resources to refurbish and maintain them as they are constantly targeted by thieves who vandalise the infrastructure.

In a speech read on his behalf by Councillor Silas Chigora during a public toilet campaign on Wednesday, the Mayor, Councillor Martin Moyo said due to vandalism and lack of proper care by members of the public who use the toilets, several toilets have been shut down.

"The city has 97 blocks of public toilets yet more than half of these have been closed down as a result of constraints experienced by council in maintaining them. Vandalism has been of major concern especially with the public toilets making it very difficult for the city to maintain them and keep them usable at all times. It is of concern to the city, the deplorable state that people leave the toilets in, making it very difficult for the next person to use it," said Clr Moyo.

He said the council was working to renovate some of the toilets with the help of its partners including Unilever and Vost.
"The present renovations will replace squat pans, retiling of the floors, redecoration and replacement of the flushing system with a more theft-proof system," said Clr Moyo.

He encouraged residents to keep the toilets clean and stop vandalising the infrastructure.

"Some sections of our community are not responsible enough to leave a toilet in the clean state they found it in while others vandalise the sanitary equipment within the facilities whereas others steal components, that rightly belong to the community, for reselling," said Clr Moyo.

TV talk show host and Domestos Brand Ambassador Dr Rebecca Chisamba who was the guest of honour challenged Bulawayo people to protect toilet infrastructure.

"In 2016, we do not expect people to be using bushes. It is embarrassing during this day of age. We have advanced technologically and we also expect people of nowadays to be also advanced and know the importance of toilets in the city and that they must be kept clean always," said Dr Chisamba.

She said more than 500 children die each year from diseases associated with poor hygiene.

"Cases of TB are on the increase in the country. Children die from typhoid, diarrhoea and other diseases that are caused by poor hygiene standards in communities. However, other people steal components in public toilets, they remove the systems and tiles and have no remorse from doing it and forget that tomorrow they will be coming back. These are a basic of human needs and they need to be preserved well," Dr Chisamba said.

Unilever communication manager Ms Kudzai Makuni said as the organisation they were proud to partner Bulawayo to refurbish toilets that have been vandalised to ensure sustainable and long term solutions to sanitation through the Domestos Owning the Toilet project.

"Unilever is committed to making sustainable living commonplace. As such Unilever has reaffirmed its commitment to championing improved sanitation in city centres across the country," said Ms Makuni.

She said Unilever has helped to refurbish four toilets in Bulawayo and Harare and provided basic needs that are used in the toilets.