By Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – More than 20,000 households in Chiredzi Rural District are still using bush
toilets, a staggering sanitation crisis that has forced the local authority to announce fines
for non-compliance as only 3 072 households out of approximately 26 000 have toilets.
The shocking statistic, indicating a paltry 11 percent of the households have toilets,
emerged during a full council meeting held recently, where Chief Executive Officer Ailes
Baloyi said council would take a tough stance to address the situation.
“This year we will be fining every household that has no toilets as a way of encouraging
residents to construct ablution facilities. Only 3 072 households have ablution facilities
out of 26 000 that we have,” said Baloyi.
Speaking to TellZim News after the meeting, Baloyi said the measure was meant to
encourage compliance, adding that the message was simple, every household should
have a toilet.
“The message is simple, every household should have a toilet. We are going to work
with traditional leaders at all levels as well as councillors to make sure that people heed
our call and comply,” said Baloyi.
Baloyi said the challenge was in communal and resettlement areas saying all public
places like business centres and markets had ablutions and were in a process of putting
up more.
He said there were several types of toilets that could be used as a temporary measure,
including simple pit latrines covered with metal iron sheets or tents, as long as there is a
toilet to curb diseases.
Baloyi added that the council was basing its assessment on statistics from the
Zimbabwe Local Government Association (Zimlac).
He also said the council was planning to introduce solid waste management systems at
household level to address environmental challenges and further curb disease
outbreaks.
In a separate matter at the same meeting, the district vowed to strictly follow proper
promotion procedures, pledging to only upgrade employees who possess the requisite
qualifications for advertised posts.
The commitment was made at CRDC’s 11th full council meeting held at the council
boardroom, where Baloyi used his first quarter report to address both the promotions
policy and the council’s efforts to combat corruption.
On promotions, Baloyi disclosed that a skills audit and job evaluation exercise was
conducted in 2025 and was yet to be presented to the Human Resources and
Administration Committee. He said the findings would guide future promotions.
“I want to assure you that we will not promote someone who has no qualifications for
the post,” said Baloyi.
His remarks come against the backdrop of a bitter dispute at neighbouring Chiredzi
Town Council, where three consecutive full council meetings were rocked by near-
physical altercations among councillors over a move to promote an employee from
Grade 11 to Grade 13 without the requisite academic qualifications.
On corruption, Baloyi announced the establishment of an anti-corruption team to be
headed by the Internal Auditor, warning those implicated in corrupt activities that the era
of impunity was over.
“Those who have been reportedly involved in corruption activities, you should begin
winding up as we no longer entertain such here,” said Baloyi.
