GOKWE – Gokwe residents have called for functional public toilets particularly at the craft market place where an estimated 500 vendors work from.
Residents told The Mirror that there are two blocked, dysfunctional toilets at the craft market place and because of their state the vendors are going into the nearby bush to relieve themselves
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They also called for decent vending stalls as they currently have makeshift plastic sheds and they place their wares including vegetables on the ground which is not hygienic.
Efforts to get a comment from Gokwe Mayor, Lisias Mutengwe were fruitless. He initially said he was driving but did not answer further calls.
“I will respond to the issues raised when I am free but right now I am driving,” said Mutengwe.
Acting Town Secretary Joconia Nyoni could not be reached for a comment.
Gokwe Urban and Rural Residents Association (GURRA) representative, John Mbavala said the issue of public toilets should be prioritised by council.
“Council has invested on a pay toilet at the main bus terminus (rank) but there are no free toilets.
“We need public toilets and pay toilets are not public toilets, residents are at risk of contracting cholera because of this problem,” said Mbabala.
Vendors said the unavailability of public toilets saw women and girls being harassed in the bushes.
“On daily basis I receive complaints from women being harassed by men in the bush.
“Our marketplace is big, it accommodates farmers who bring their produce daily and vendors who constitute a very big number. We open at 6am and close at 6pm. Our main challenge is that we don’t have toilets. We have a dysfunctional Blair toilet and the other one which is not even functional had its roof partly blown off.
“I have been chief security officer of this place for a long time. Council has failed us. They collect money for non-existent service,” said Evaristo Mashingaidze the Chief Security Officer at the Craft Market.
Rachel Butau who works at the Craft Market said women are being harassed in the bush.
“Women are not safe because of unavailability of ablution facilities here. Most of the time women run the risk of being harassed by men in the bush and at one point a woman was attacked whilst relieving herself and she ran out of the bush with her pants down.
“Council needs to act and build better toilets here before it’s too late,” said Butau.
Mirror
