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Conrad Mupesa–Mashonaland West Bureau
AT least 280 families from Mhangura’s Chebanga high density suburb will soon benefit from ablution facilities being constructed through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The five ablution facilities that were in the suburb collapsed nearly two decades ago after the closure of Mhangura Copper Mine, and families face the of contracting water borne diseases.
Speaking to The Herald this week during a tour of the blair toilets under construction, Mhangura legislator Cde Precious Chinhamo-Masango said $180 000 was disbursed by the Government towards constituency development and part of the funds were now being channelled towards sanitation services.
“Devolution funds have been key in solving the problems we have here. I’m using part of the Constituency Development Funds to partially solve the problem.
“We identified between 20 and 25 sites for the construction of Blair toilets in this area. That’s the way to go given that the blocks are collapsing and no longer usable since there is no running water in the area,” she said.
Cde Chinhamo-Masango said the community has been participating by loading bricks, river sand, stones and digging of the holes.
“It was unfortunate that a parent rock was reached at 1,2 metres before a target of a three-metre depth, which deterred the majority of the community from participating. Only nine continued digging,” she said.
Makonde district Ward 11 environmental health technician, Mr Donaldson Siyaya said a health time bomb was ticking in Mhangura but said the construction of the Blair toilets would alleviate the problem.
“We approved the construction of Blair toilets which are perceived better given the lack of water to flush the current toilet blocks.
“We raised the issue with Mashonaland West provincial development coordinator, and our hope is that devolution funds will be provided so that we solve the problem.
“This is a health time bomb and we are fortunate not to have not had a cholera outbreak,” he said.
Community members applauded the Government for availing CDF and Cde Chinhamo-Masango, for ensuring that they have ablution facilities.
Said Mr McDonald Lunga: “Life has not been easy for us here. Imagine the discomfort you feel when nature calls and you start thinking of the bad state of ablution facilities.
“Such is the case for over 200 households in Mhangura’s Chebanga area where close to 5 000 people used to share five public toilet blocks before they literally collapsed following blockages due to unavailability of running water.”
Online Reporter