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BULAWAYO City Council has warned residents against occupying houses which do not have proper sanitary facilities such as toilets.
In a statement, Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said occupying houses with no toilets and other facilities was not only illegal but compromised the occupants’ health.
Mrs Mpofu’s warning follows reports of increased cases of families occupying houses under construction in the city’s different suburbs.
She said it was a requirement for a family or an individual to first obtain occupation certificate before moving into a new house.
“Occupation certificates are only issued when the house has been certified fit for human habitation and the provision of toilets is one of the requirements,” said Mrs Mpofu.
She said occupation of houses without proper sanitary facilities contravenes the city bylaws. The economic hardships that has seen thousands of residents losing their jobs, is reported to be forcing people constructing houses to occupy the buildings before they are complete.
Some individuals are actually renting out incomplete houses and the rentals are said to be cheap. A Chronicle news crew visited one of the suburbs, Pumula South, where some residents are staying in houses without proper sanitary facilities.
In an interview, Mrs Ndakaitei Mhere said: “We have been staying here for more than a year now and we have been using the bush to relieve ourselves or ask to use neighbours’ toilet.”
Another resident, Ms Siphiwe Sibanda, said she moved to the house with no running water and toilets because the rent was affordable.
“I moved here with my children after my husband passed away. We were failing to raise money to rent houses with running water and toilets resulting in us resorting to renting this incomplete house,” said Ms Sibanda.
The houses owners are reportedly taking advantage of the desperate situation faced by their tenants.
“We live in incomplete houses and usually when the owners of the houses finish constructing their houses they evict us,” said a tenant, who declined to be named.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu