Council does not maintain these toilets to an unacceptable standards
Tendai Mange
Vendors
at Chitima market are living in fear of cholera and other diseases due to the
filthy toilets that often get blocked without remedial action being taken.
at Chitima market are living in fear of cholera and other diseases due to the
filthy toilets that often get blocked without remedial action being taken.
Traders
at the market claim Masvingo City Council has not cleaned the toilets at
Chitima market for several weeks and blockages have not been attended to.
at the market claim Masvingo City Council has not cleaned the toilets at
Chitima market for several weeks and blockages have not been attended to.
People
who are being affected the most are those who sell fruits and vegetables as
well as those who prepare meals.
who are being affected the most are those who sell fruits and vegetables as
well as those who prepare meals.
Sarah
Muziyoni, who has been doing business at the market for many years, said
customers were shunning the place due to extremely bad odours.
Muziyoni, who has been doing business at the market for many years, said
customers were shunning the place due to extremely bad odours.
“Most
affected is the food section. People are thinking twice before coming here to
buy meals, fruits and vegetable. This is very bad for us and we feel council
has neglected its responsibilities.
affected is the food section. People are thinking twice before coming here to
buy meals, fruits and vegetable. This is very bad for us and we feel council
has neglected its responsibilities.
The
informal traders also fear for their health and the safety of their minor
children who do not know how to practice absolute caution in a dirty
environment.
informal traders also fear for their health and the safety of their minor
children who do not know how to practice absolute caution in a dirty
environment.
A
customer who used to buy lunch at the market said she had since stopped due to
the increase of flies and uncleanliness.
customer who used to buy lunch at the market said she had since stopped due to
the increase of flies and uncleanliness.
Other
traders said they were contemplating taking their demands to council in a
forceful manner most probably trough a demonstration against the environmental
health services department.
traders said they were contemplating taking their demands to council in a
forceful manner most probably trough a demonstration against the environmental
health services department.
Acting director in the department,
Ngonidzase Mapamula, however, disputed that the toilets were not being cleaned,
saying there were employees dedicated to that job alone.
Ngonidzase Mapamula, however, disputed that the toilets were not being cleaned,
saying there were employees dedicated to that job alone.
“The toilets are being cleaned every
day. We have permanent cleaners who stay at Chitima. There was just a blockage
which was attended to last week,” said Mapamula.
day. We have permanent cleaners who stay at Chitima. There was just a blockage
which was attended to last week,” said Mapamula.
Housing and Community Services director,
Livison Nzvura said council was doing its best to keep the market clean despite
that many of the traders were not paying anything to council.
Livison Nzvura said council was doing its best to keep the market clean despite
that many of the traders were not paying anything to council.
“Council is not getting anything much
from that market because people are not paying, yet we are still doing our best
to keep the place clean. We encourage people to quickly notify us if there if
they face such kind of challenges in the future,” said Nzura.
from that market because people are not paying, yet we are still doing our best
to keep the place clean. We encourage people to quickly notify us if there if
they face such kind of challenges in the future,” said Nzura.
