A HEALTH time bomb is looming in most Bulawayo suburbs amid revelations that public toilets are not functioning, with flies breeding all over the residential areas.
This is revealed in the latest Bulawayo City Council minutes on the health inspectorate.
During a full council meeting, councillor Muziwakibo Masuku complained about the non-functioning toilets at a shopping centres in high-density areas.
“A lot of flies are breeding in these areas. Does council have any strategy to repair the toilets?”
He also referred to public toilets in ward 12 at Malaba and Masunda shopping centres, adding that the grounds in Njube had no toilets.
Councillor Greater Gumede concurred with Khumalo, adding that public toilets at Maplanka shopping centre in ward 16 had not been working for a long time.
“The issues raised about repairs are centred on budget approval. The 2025 council budget has been approved,” he said.
She wanted to know why the toilets had not been repaired.
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Councillor Tavengwe Zidya called on the council to inspect all water and sanitation infrastructure.
“Council water is being lost along 15th Avenue, where there is a broken pipe. Commuter omnibus crews have turned the spot into an illegal car wash. Next to the area, an illegal truck stop had been established,” Zidya said.
The minutes state that such spots attract illegal food vendors.
Indications are that cooked food is being sold from car boots and containers, and no inspection has been done of the premises that produce such food.
“After hours, there are a lot of illegal vendors in the CBD (central business district who sell meat and dairy products. These products need to be refrigerated. Selling of such products can lead to food poisoning,” the minutes read.
The council was urged to have an operation to enforce relevant by-laws.
Councillor Adrian Moyo, while responding to the concerns, explained that open-air vending of meat and dairy products is illegal.
“Residents should be encouraged to stop buying meat and dairy products from illegal vendors on the streets. Buying food such as meat and dairy products can lead to food poisoning. Tracing efforts can be difficult once there is an outbreak,” he said.
Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo concurred, highlighting that residents should adhere to food control by-laws.
Moyo said council should enforce by-laws and close all the illegal food-preparation facilities.
Council resolved to establish a health, housing and education committee that enforces the restriction on the vending of such foodstuffs and ensures the functionality of public toilets.
