Health time bomb looms in Byo surburb

A HEALTH time bomb is looming in Cowdray Park high density suburb in Bulawayo where beneficiaries of Garikai/ Hlalani Kuhle housing programme are living under filthy conditions due to lack of proper sanitation, sewerage and tap water systems, almost four years after the housing programme was launched.

Close to 300 people were allocated houses in the suburb without proper ablution facilities due to arguments between the Bulawayo City Council and the government over the implementation of the programme.

The city council argued that under the existing council by-laws, the houses could not be occupied without proper sanitation, while the government was determined to fast track the scheme.

Almost four years after the scheme, council has not yet moved in with the provision of water, sewerage services as well as the construction of roads.

“We do not understand why the council is failing to provide these essential services to us. We are paying our monthly instalments, but right now we do not have water, proper toilets as well sewerage facilities. We feel someone is out to sabotage this programme,” said Joice Nkala a beneficiary of the programme.

Another beneficiary Joseph Sibanda said most of the residents in the area have now resorted to bush toilets and fetching water from unprotected water sources because there is no running water.

At the inception of the programme, the Minister of Local government and National Housing Ignatius Chombo openly clashed with the former Bulawayo Executive Mayor Jasphet Ndabeni Ncube over the criteria used in allocating stands in the high density suburb.

The government launched Operation Garikai /Hlalani Kuhle in the wake of the nationwide massive clean-up exercise that sought to bring sanity in urban areas where there was rampant mushrooming of illegal structures and illicit businesses.