Opinion / Columnist
Open letter to Bulawayo City Council fathers
1 hr ago |
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Dear City Council Fathers,
We write this open letter to express our deep disappointment and concern regarding the continued silence from your office following our correspondence initially on the 19th of September 2025 and a follow up letter on the 10th of October about the hygiene challenges associated with the payment system at public toilets.
As residents and regular users of these facilities, we raise legitimate issues that affect the health, dignity, and daily wellbeing of community members. The introduction of payment at public toilets was presented as a measure to improve cleanliness and maintenance. Maybe yes, that objective has been realized but it is unfortunate that the reasons for which the public toilets were erected will never be realized despite the fees being collected.
City fathers, as Mthwakazi Liberation Movement, believe the payment system creates several negative impacts to the communities of the City of the Kings as that:
(1) It excludes low-income residents, the homeless, and vulnerable individuals who cannot afford to pay.
(2) It increases public health risks as people often resort to unsafe alternatives when they are unable to pay the required fee.
(3) It causes delays and inconvenience during emergencies, especially for children, the elderly, and individuals with medical conditions.
(4) It deprives women, girls and the disabled of privacy, dignity, and safety when they cannot access a toilet due to lack of money, forcing them into unsafe or unsanitary alternatives. This situation is not only unfair but also exposes them to risks of harassment, infection, and emotional distress.
(5) It undermines the principle of public facilities being accessible to all, not only to those who can afford them.
(6) It increases chances of the outbreaks of the pandemics like cholera and typhoid, putting the lives of many people into risk.
We therefore request an urgent review of the payment system and its impact on public health, safety, privacy, and accessibility—especially for women, girls and the disabled and a detailed plan of action outlining how the City Council intends to improve hygiene standards in public toilets and ensure fair access for all residents.
We trust that the City Council will address this matter with the seriousness it deserves. Access to clean and safe sanitation is a basic human right, and we expect your office to uphold this responsibility.
Yours faithfully,
Sibangani Ngwenya (Mr.)
Mthwakazi Liberation Movement (MLM)
We write this open letter to express our deep disappointment and concern regarding the continued silence from your office following our correspondence initially on the 19th of September 2025 and a follow up letter on the 10th of October about the hygiene challenges associated with the payment system at public toilets.
As residents and regular users of these facilities, we raise legitimate issues that affect the health, dignity, and daily wellbeing of community members. The introduction of payment at public toilets was presented as a measure to improve cleanliness and maintenance. Maybe yes, that objective has been realized but it is unfortunate that the reasons for which the public toilets were erected will never be realized despite the fees being collected.
City fathers, as Mthwakazi Liberation Movement, believe the payment system creates several negative impacts to the communities of the City of the Kings as that:
(1) It excludes low-income residents, the homeless, and vulnerable individuals who cannot afford to pay.
(2) It increases public health risks as people often resort to unsafe alternatives when they are unable to pay the required fee.
(3) It causes delays and inconvenience during emergencies, especially for children, the elderly, and individuals with medical conditions.
(4) It deprives women, girls and the disabled of privacy, dignity, and safety when they cannot access a toilet due to lack of money, forcing them into unsafe or unsanitary alternatives. This situation is not only unfair but also exposes them to risks of harassment, infection, and emotional distress.
(5) It undermines the principle of public facilities being accessible to all, not only to those who can afford them.
(6) It increases chances of the outbreaks of the pandemics like cholera and typhoid, putting the lives of many people into risk.
We therefore request an urgent review of the payment system and its impact on public health, safety, privacy, and accessibility—especially for women, girls and the disabled and a detailed plan of action outlining how the City Council intends to improve hygiene standards in public toilets and ensure fair access for all residents.
We trust that the City Council will address this matter with the seriousness it deserves. Access to clean and safe sanitation is a basic human right, and we expect your office to uphold this responsibility.
Yours faithfully,
Sibangani Ngwenya (Mr.)
Mthwakazi Liberation Movement (MLM)
Source - Sibangani Ngwenya
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