adminThe development comes amid revelations that officials at the Registrar General’s Office were allegedly denying the passport seekers access to the toilets.
The Government Complex houses provincial offices of most Government ministries.
In interviews yesterday, some passport seekers told Chronicle that the Registrar General’s Office officials were denying them access to the toilets, forcing them to use the bush and other secluded places that include emergency exit corridors at the complex, to relieve themselves.
“The Registrar General’s Office officials lock their toilet doors and they don’t want anyone who is not part of the staff to use the toilets. This is despite the fact that there would be hundreds of people from morning to sunset. Some sleep here in queues but the challenge is that of toilets. We end up using corridors or seeking cover behind parked vehicles within the complex to relieve ourselves,” said Mr Tichaona Gundu from Mberengwa.
Mr Gundu, who said he was in the queue for the second day trying to renew his Emergency Travelling Document, said some ministries within the complex were also denying them access to the toilets.
“When I last visited this place, we would ask for toilet facilities from other ministries at this complex and they used to offer us. Now they no longer want to provide us with their toilets, arguing that the Registrar’s Office should provide the service,” he said.
Ms Caroline Macheka who was applying for a passport and that of her two-year-old daughter said most children were relieving themselves in the open all over the complex.
“As adults, we try hard to control ourselves but when nature calls it is very difficult. We end up searching for some place within the complex to help ourselves because we have no choice. The whole place is now stinking,” she said.
Another passport seeker who declined to be named urged the responsible authorities to move in and assist passport seekers with proper facilities at the complex.
“What is happening here is abnormal and the Government health inspectors should do something so that there is total hygiene here,” she said.
Midlands Provincial Registrar Ms Gladys Gambura was said to be not in office yesterday.
Her deputy, a Mr Kulinga, referred this reporter to a female official who said they were not in a position to provide ablution facilities for the “general public”. “Our toilets are not for the general public but for staff hence we lock them up,” said the official who declined to be named.
Online Reporter