BULAWAYO cannot continue to be treated as one giant public toilet.
Council’s proposal to impose a US$200 fine on people caught urinating in public, alongside US$50 for littering and US$100 for public dumping, is a welcome step in restoring sanity to the city.
For years, public spaces, pavements, alleyways and even trees have been abused as dumping grounds and makeshift toilets.
This is not simply an eyesore. It undermines public health, dignity and the image of a city that should be setting standards for cleanliness.
Yes, Bulawayo needs more public toilets. Council itself has acknowledged the shortage, particularly along 5th Avenue.
But the shortage of facilities cannot become a licence for lawlessness.
Residents have a responsibility to protect the environment they share. Businesses, too, must play their part by providing litter bins and ensuring their premises do not contribute to the mess.
The proposed fines should therefore be accompanied by a serious enforcement campaign.
People need to know that public urination, littering and illegal dumping have consequences.
For too long, some residents have behaved as though public spaces belong to nobody. They belong to everyone.
Council must also ensure that the penalties are applied fairly and consistently. Enforcement should not target only ordinary residents while businesses and other offenders escape scrutiny.
The same standards must apply across the board.
Council’s concerns over inadequate street-cleaning resources are also legitimate. Ward 7, for example, has only 15 sweepers despite covering a large area that includes the busy Renkini Rural Bus Terminus.
More resources are clearly needed.
But citizens cannot wait for council to solve every problem before taking responsibility for their own behaviour.
A cleaner Bulawayo requires both responsible residents and a responsive council.
The proposed municipal courts and arresting powers could give council the tools needed to enforce its by-laws effectively. What is needed now is the political will to use those powers responsibly.
The US$200 fine may appear steep, but perhaps that is precisely the point.
If people know that fouling the city will hit them where it hurts, they may think twice before turning a pavement or tree into a toilet.
Bulawayo has spent years talking about restoring its reputation as a clean and orderly city.
It is time to move from talking to enforcement.
Fine the filth. Clean the city. Restore Bulawayo’s dignity.
