SHORTAGE of funds has delayed the construction of Mabutweni residential toilets affecting Bulawayo City Council (BBC)’s efforts to replace the communal toilet system and provide residents with ablution facilities in their houses, ward 9 councillor Donaldson Mabutho has said.
He said BCC had allocated a capital budget for the construction of toilets, but failed to raise the funds.
Mabutho said the local authority had allocated US$184 000 for the construction of residential toilets in Mabutweni and Iminyela.
“Unfortunately, council has failed to raise the funds for the project, hence the delay in the completion of the toilets,” he told Southern Eye.
He said he engaged the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), which agreed to show them blocks where 10 residential toilets will be constructed in the area.
“The BPRA also engaged the Australian embassy to get funds to construct the toilets and I have heard that the deal is now at the final stage, which means soon, some toilets may be constructed,” he said.
“We are having a big challenge as six households are using a single toilet and we are at risk of disease outbreaks as we have a water crisis in our city.
“In terms of health hygiene, it is bad as more people are using a single toilet.”
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Mabutho said the city wanted to speed up the construction of residential toilets and had engaged stakeholders to improve hygiene in the area.
“It is not good for the people of Mabutweni to be exposed to such health risks and they appeal to individuals and organisations to assist them in the completion of the project so that they can have a better living,” he said.
