… Authorities yet to full fill promise of relief
Courage Dutiro
The neglected Garikai women in Masvingo Urban’s ward 3 said they are still living in an inhabitable environment due to the unavailability of toilets and safe water in the commonage 17 years after the residential area’s establishment.
Garikai is a residential area that was availed by government in 2005 to accommodate hundreds of victims of operation Murambatsvina.
The residential place has 99 houses with each house sometimes housing two or more families who share a single community tap and few available ablution facilities.
A woman who only identified herself as Ropa said they are pleading with those in authority to assist them with ecological sanitation (ecosan) toilets like those in Victoria Ranch suburb.
“Water is only available at the tap for only an hour which is usually around 3 am. This is putting us and our houses at danger for instance from thieves.
“If it’s possible, I am pleading with authorities to assist us with the type of toilets like those in Victoria Ranch. Most of us here use bush toilets,” she said.
Victoria Ranch and Garikai residential areas are yet to be connected to Masvingo’s main sewer system.
Garikai area chairperson Getrude Mukokovondo said the responsible authorities have since pledged to bring relief but they seem to have forgotten to full fill the promise of relief.
“Some time ago the minister visited this area with his delegation and promised to assist on the issue of toilets but nothing took shape up to now concerning the issue. Maybe they will come soon.
“On the issue of water, we are depending on a single Jojo tank and a tap. The water we get from the tank is not safe for drinking as the tank has no lid top exposing it to contamination.
“We get water for drinking purposes from a borehole and we are thankful that city council assists whenever we encounter a problem with the borehole,” said Mukokovondo.
She also said the problem has been there for ages, they cannot blame the sitting councilor for the problem.
“I think the first thing that is supposed to be done before someone is given a residential place is to have enough ablution facilities at the place.
“We cannot blame the councilor who assumed duty a few months ago through by-elections, the problem has been there for years,” she added.
Zimbabwe is set to achieve an upper middle-class economy status by 2030.
Ward 3 councilor Rocky Kamuzonda said he is pushing for the construction of at least two public toilets in the area.
“Council by-laws does not allow construction of Ecosan type of toilets. We are trying to make sure that the place get two or three public toilets that suit with the council laws,” said Kamuzonda.
Kamuzonda assumed office during the March 26 by-elections.
