News / National
Bulawayo council struggles to provide toilets for its residents
9 hrs ago | Views
Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is facing delays in the construction of essential sanitation facilities in Iminyela and Mabuthweni suburbs, where over 1,300 households still rely on communal toilets, putting residents at significant health risk.
According to recent council minutes, the housing director, Dictor Khumalo, reported that the construction of individual toilets has made limited progress in both suburbs. In Iminyela, 217 individual toilets have been partially completed, while Mabuthweni has seen the completion of 484 toilets. However, there remains a substantial backlog of 1,331 units still to be constructed across the two areas.
The sanitation project was initiated more than seven years ago as part of a broader effort to improve living conditions for residents who have long been dependent on shared, communal toilets, often leading to unsanitary conditions. Under the current system, multiple families share a single toilet, which raises concerns about hygiene and exposes them to potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
In 2017, a partial phase of the project saw the commissioning of 279 toilets, costing US$119,000, which were built in collaboration with several partner organizations, including the Zimbabwe Homeless People's Federation, Dialogue on Shelter, the National University of Science and Technology, and local residents. These partners provided 80% of the funding, with residents covering the remaining 20%.
This year, the council set aside a budget of US$187,000 to help eliminate the shared toilet system in the affected suburbs. However, the slow pace of construction means that many families continue to face the challenges of overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions. According to city by-laws, the transfer of house ownership to residents is not permitted until adequate ablution facilities are provided, which has left many families unable to secure formal property rights.
The situation has worsened in some areas, with communal toilets deteriorating over time. Some toilets are in a dilapidated state, with raw sewage spilling into residential yards, further exacerbating the health risks for residents.
Residents, who often live in cramped conditions with several families sharing a single room, have raised concerns about the unsanitary environment. They say the lack of proper sanitation facilities is contributing to the spread of diseases, particularly waterborne illnesses, and is impacting their overall quality of life.
As the council continues to work on completing the sanitation infrastructure in Iminyela and Mabuthweni, the urgency of addressing these critical health and living conditions remains a priority.
According to recent council minutes, the housing director, Dictor Khumalo, reported that the construction of individual toilets has made limited progress in both suburbs. In Iminyela, 217 individual toilets have been partially completed, while Mabuthweni has seen the completion of 484 toilets. However, there remains a substantial backlog of 1,331 units still to be constructed across the two areas.
The sanitation project was initiated more than seven years ago as part of a broader effort to improve living conditions for residents who have long been dependent on shared, communal toilets, often leading to unsanitary conditions. Under the current system, multiple families share a single toilet, which raises concerns about hygiene and exposes them to potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
In 2017, a partial phase of the project saw the commissioning of 279 toilets, costing US$119,000, which were built in collaboration with several partner organizations, including the Zimbabwe Homeless People's Federation, Dialogue on Shelter, the National University of Science and Technology, and local residents. These partners provided 80% of the funding, with residents covering the remaining 20%.
This year, the council set aside a budget of US$187,000 to help eliminate the shared toilet system in the affected suburbs. However, the slow pace of construction means that many families continue to face the challenges of overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions. According to city by-laws, the transfer of house ownership to residents is not permitted until adequate ablution facilities are provided, which has left many families unable to secure formal property rights.
The situation has worsened in some areas, with communal toilets deteriorating over time. Some toilets are in a dilapidated state, with raw sewage spilling into residential yards, further exacerbating the health risks for residents.
Residents, who often live in cramped conditions with several families sharing a single room, have raised concerns about the unsanitary environment. They say the lack of proper sanitation facilities is contributing to the spread of diseases, particularly waterborne illnesses, and is impacting their overall quality of life.
As the council continues to work on completing the sanitation infrastructure in Iminyela and Mabuthweni, the urgency of addressing these critical health and living conditions remains a priority.
Source - newsday
