adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
THE Gwanda Town Council has engaged donor agencies, Unicef and World Vision to assist it in servicing the Hlalani Kuhle residential area.The council, which took over the responsibility of the project last year, has been facing difficulties in servicing the area.
The residents in the area do not have toilets and also have limited access to water.
Responding to written questions from Chronicle, the town clerk, Mr Gilbert Mlilo, said full servicing of the area has been hampered by lack of funds.
“Council has approached some donor agencies for financial assistance to service the Hlalani Kuhle area. We are in the process of sourcing assistance from Unicef and World Vision for servicing the area due to financial challenges. The council has failed to service these stands fully.
“Therefore, plans are at an advanced stage to put up communally shared toilets within the area,” he said.
Unavailability of sanitation facilities has forced hundreds of residents in the area to use the bush.
Mr Mlilo said the water problems would also be solved as the municipality recently installed communal taps.
He said despite the challenges the council faced in servicing the area, it had made strides to improve the lives of residents.
“Council made some efforts against a background of financial and geographical challenges to improve the lives of Hlalani Kuhle residents,” he said.
Meanwhile, the town council is facing difficulties in tracing owners of some of the stands. Most people occupying the Hlalani Kuhle houses are tenants.
“The municipality is also facing challenges in verifying the ownership of some of the stands as some of the prescribed owners cannot be located to sign contract agreements with council,” said Mr Mlilo.
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