Tsholotsho RDC to rehabilitate waste water treatment plants

**A man walks from Bulawayo Polytechnic, along a footpath that is surrounded by overgrown grass due to rains risking his life as thieves tend to hide in the thick foliage. (Picture by Dennis Mudzamiri)**

Sandra Tekere, Sunday News Reporter
THE Tsholotsho Rural District Council is working on rehabilitating its waste water treatment plant, a project meant to reduce frequent blockages which are posing a health hazard to residents.

The waste water treatment plant was established more than 25 years ago and has been failing to cope with the growing population at Tsholotsho Centre.

An official said the water treatment rehabilitation project was being facilitated by the Government, but he could not immediately reveal the budget.

In an interview, Tsholotsho Director of Engineering Services Mr Lawrence Nhandara said: “As the council we noted that the frequent waste blockages are affecting Tsholotsho Hospital, Tsholotsho School of Nursing and Efusini Township. Patients at the hospital are already vulnerable and as the blockages are exposing them to risk of contracting more diseases.”

Mr Nhandara said in some cases, patients at Tsholotsho District Hospital were depending on Blair toilets which was unacceptable for a place which has applied for town status.

“We are glad that the rehabilitation programme will bring positive change to the Tsholotsho communities.”

Mr Nhandara said the rehabilitation will cater for the processing of solid waste which the existing plant was not capable of executing.

“The new system will be able to detect solids and effectively fish them out from the system. Some people are in the habit of throwing in pampers and sanitary pads which cause blockages. Some of our manhole covers have been stolen by vandals who think there are diamonds in those metal covers. Such people end up leaving insoluble solids at the system which steer blockages,” he said.

Mr Nhandara said the project was likely to start after the rainy season.