Bulawayo Ward 9 Councillor, Donaldson Mabutho, has announced a US$187 000 allocation for the Emabuthweni Iminyela Redevelopment Strategy.
This project aims to address sanitation concerns and improve living conditions in one of the city’s oldest suburbs.
Residents currently face health risks due to a lack of proper sanitation facilities.
“We fear outbreaks like cholera,” said Bekithemba Ngwenya, a resident. “Sharing one toilet between four families is unimaginable, especially considering the city’s water challenges. We travel long distances to collect water from an abandoned pit for toilets.”
Nothando Ncube, another resident, echoed these concerns. “This has been an issue for far too long. Imagine 24 people sharing one toilet, considering the average family size here is six. The lack of locks and monitoring means anyone can use them, potentially leaving them unclean due to the water shortage. We urge the city council to intervene before diseases strike.”
Councillor Mabutho acknowledged the urgency and outlined the municipality’s plan.
“The Emabuthweni Iminyela Redevelopment Strategy, with a US$187,000 budget, has been developed,” he said. “While we don’t currently have the full amount, the allocation allows us to begin efforts to redevelop these areas. Our primary focus is ensuring each household has its own toilet.”
Mabutho further mentioned a potential solution for building materials.
“Emabuthweni residents received a brick moulding machine during their previous councillor’s term. I’m investigating its whereabouts to determine if it can be used to produce bricks for the toilets.”
Valve vandalism worsens Bulawayo water crisis
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Vandalism of water pipe valves has aggravated the water crisis in Bulawayo with residents enduring many days without tape water.
The situation is worse in Pumula where tapes have run dry for several months.
The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) recently introduced 120-hour water rationing due to the declining water levels at the city supply dams with most residents struggling to access the precious liquid.
Ward 18 councillor Felix Madzana said the vandalism of water pipe valves led to some residents not getting water when it’s restored.
“It was confirmed that the place was vandalised. There is a pressure reducing valve and some brass pipes which were stolen.
“This is the reason why they could not open water to everyone, so for now they are using the old system which has always disadvantaged Pumula East residents especially around the ZCC area going to other places. I’m yet to hear the cost of the damage and what it will take for it to be fixed,” Madzana said.
He said the level of vandalism was escalating in Pumula.
“The vandalism have gone so high in our area. The vandalism of water valves is something new we are witnessing. They used to steal lids from sewage manholes and then moved to goal posts.
“We had installed water tanks with solar panels in most suburbs but all have been stolen which is really worrying considering the water situation that residents are facing,” he said.
BCC director of engineering services Sikhumbuzo Ncube said council would dispatch plumbers to assess the damages.
The local authority received US$15 million from government this month as an emergency support system to alleviate the water situation in the city. Southern Eye
