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Conrad Mupesa–Mashonaland West Bureau
THE Look East Policy adopted by the Government continues to bear fruits for Zimbabweans with the Chegutu community basking in glory following the construction of toilets by a Chinese firm.
Afrochine Smelting Company constructed 24 pit latrines at Hopewell Saruwe Farm in Chegutu East constituency bringing much relief to families that had gone for over eight years without proper toilets.
Pit latrines are good as they minimise the contamination of surface water and top soil if properly installed and maintained. They can be constructed at minimum cost using local materials and local skills. The presence of properly constructed slabs will allow for easy cleaning.
Chegutu East National Assembly member-elect, Webster Shamu spearheaded the project for the community to have enough ablution facilities.
This was after the ones that they used became obsolete and dysfunctional.
The development is a step towards an open defecation-free society with beneficiaries applauding the company last Friday when the units were commissioned.
One of the community members, Mr Lloyd Wakowa said: “I was born in 1981 in this area. We had a few toilets in the compound and, when they got dysfunctional, no solution was proffered. We resorted to using the bush while children would just mess everywhere.”
For 23-year-old Patience Pisiri, the coming in of the Chinese firm brought hope for a modern society in the making. She has, like other youths of her age, used the bush to relieve herself.
Gogo Chamboko (71) said life was unbearable without toilets.
“We were meeting in the bush; men, women and children. It was very bad and we are thankful to Afrochine,” she said.
Afrochine Human Resources manager Mr Qurtis Wang said the gesture, which falls under its corporate social responsibility programme, was necessitated by the need to stop the outbreak of cholera while at the same time bringing dignity to the farming community.
The community accommodates relatives of the Afrochine employees.
“As Afrochine, we are supported by the community so as part of our corporate social responsibility, we have to give back to the community and at that time it just happened that there was a cholera break out.
“So, we wanted to stop the cholera outbreak, as well as to improve the life conditions of the community. We built 24 toilets here and in the future we are going to sink boreholes for safe drinking water and some equipment for the play ground,” he said.
The company, he said, was also going to help upgrade a local clinic with the hope of improving healthcare system.
Afrochine operates multiple ferrochrome-producing furnaces at its Selous plant and will provide necessary raw material for steel production to the Manhize Plant.
Online Reporter