Opinion / Columnist
Public toilets must be free
08 Mar 2022 at 05:45hrs | Views
TODAY let us turn our attention to public toilets in city centres which are now pay toilets when one wants to use them.
Yesteryear these toilets were used by the public free of charge and they were kept smart by the responsible authorities but it seems now a thing of the past.
Given that ratepayers are being made to pay for toilets after paying rates, it means they are being made to pay twice for the same service.
It is not right to do it that way because it disadvantages even the public transporters who pay council for use of roads and termini and are also levied presumptive tax by central government.
On top of that, we do have some businesses and registered vendors who also pay rates to councils in all cities.
On this note, I appeal to the city fathers to explain the issue of pay toilets. If we are not careful even the termini will be leased to private players.
While we are on the same issue, remember these termini or the city centres are the property of the Local Government ministry, while city councils report to the ministry, therefore, at the end of the day these are government properties which means the government has control over them.
Therefore, the State in partnership with local authorities should provide free public toilets since residents pay rates and other taxes. We do have public places where there are free toilets for example, at the stadiums and other recreational places.
It is government's responsibility to save our nation from this rot where council officials are stealing from the people.
Yesteryear these toilets were used by the public free of charge and they were kept smart by the responsible authorities but it seems now a thing of the past.
Given that ratepayers are being made to pay for toilets after paying rates, it means they are being made to pay twice for the same service.
It is not right to do it that way because it disadvantages even the public transporters who pay council for use of roads and termini and are also levied presumptive tax by central government.
On top of that, we do have some businesses and registered vendors who also pay rates to councils in all cities.
On this note, I appeal to the city fathers to explain the issue of pay toilets. If we are not careful even the termini will be leased to private players.
While we are on the same issue, remember these termini or the city centres are the property of the Local Government ministry, while city councils report to the ministry, therefore, at the end of the day these are government properties which means the government has control over them.
Therefore, the State in partnership with local authorities should provide free public toilets since residents pay rates and other taxes. We do have public places where there are free toilets for example, at the stadiums and other recreational places.
It is government's responsibility to save our nation from this rot where council officials are stealing from the people.
Source - Paul Makiwa: Secretary-general of the Zimbabwe Passengers Association
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