RESIDENTS in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo have expressed concern over overflowing Blair toilets which poses a serious health hazard to the community.
The concerns come at the same time when Zimbabwe is battling to contain a cholera outbreak, while the suburb recorded the highest diarrhoea cases last month.
Ward 6 in Cowdray Park encompasses new residential areas, including Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle, a government housing scheme handed over to council in 2012.
A member of the ward development committee, Kholwani Mtuliki, expressed concern over the poor sewage system.
“We have been living here since 2013 without sewer connections to our homes leading us to rely on Blair toilets,” Mtuliki said.
“The matter has been reported to the Bulawayo City Council several times, but it has not responded.”
Ward 6 councillor Nkosinathi Mpofu Hove said approximately 70% of the houses in Cowdray Park were exposed to sewage due to the overflowing Blair toilets.
He also revealed that he had reported the matter on several occasions during council meetings.
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Hove said after being elected councillor three months ago residents tasked him to handle the matter which has affected them since 2007.
“This situation is a threat to the community's health and people’s wellbeing with some of the residents falling ill because of the problem.
“Residents have been trying to use chemicals (enzymes) and digging holes on different places around their yards to try and salvage the situation,” he said.
Hove said some residents had approached council for bills of quantities for sewage reticulation so that they could mobilise funds.
Hove called on council officials to mobilise funds to service the area, adding that central government should also assist the local authority to deal with the challenges.
He advised residents to avoid dumping litter that clogs the toilets leading to overflowing sewage, adding that they use chemicals to reduce the effects.
