This has seen vendors, people living in the streets and
commuter omnibus drivers relieving themselves along the service lanes and in
dark corners.
The public toilets have notices on the doors reading, “Not
in Use — No Water”.
For a city that is eyeing world class city status by 2025,
the stench in the streets of Harare and the faecal matter in alleys present a
scenario far from ideal.
At the end of last week, toilets located at Harare Gardens,
Copacabana, Charge Office and Sam Nujoma Street were not in use as continuous
pipe bursts rendered them unfit for use.
Despite the notice indicating there was no water in the
restroom at Charge Office rank, people were still using it.
Fresh fruit and snacks are being sold by vendors behind the
restrooms, endangering public health especially since the cholera outbreak,
while drastically diminished, is still live and infection remains a risk.
According to a taxi driver who works at the Copacabana, the
council ought to offer complimentary restrooms.
“I used to assume that using the public restroom was free,
but I was shocked to learn that they now cost 50 cents, and I cannot afford
that. My wish is that the city council should fulfil its duties by providing
free toilets. To save my money, I use those pavements and buildings as
toilets,” he said.
A vendor, who preferred
to remain anonymous, said the council was taking residents for granted.
“These public toilets have been closed for quite some time
because there is no water. The toilets are not even being maintained and people
are relieving themselves anywhere. I do not know why the council is hanging on
to facilities that are not adding any value to ratepayers.’’
Another resident, who only identified herself as Mrs
Chengetai, had no kind words.
“Council has not even expressed regret, people are using
the surrounding bushes as places to relieve themselves, which puts us at risk
of disease epidemics. Ultimately, the public restrooms are broken,” she
remarked.
At the Charge Office public transport ranks, a driver named
Nancy Svoni lodged a complaint against the attendant for charging them for
tissue paper.
“They charged us $2 000 for tissue paper, even though
sometimes they allowed us to use the toilet,” the woman remarked.
Harare City council spkesperson, Mr Stanley Gama said that
they are working in partnership with ZRP to investigate and prosecute city
council workers who are charging the public to use the toilets’’
“We are engaging with the ZRP to prosecute those who are
practising unethical things at work, such as corruption. For this will not
achieve our vision goal of becoming a world-class city by 2025,” he said Herald
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