By Promise Dube
Residents of Pumula old have raised serious concerns about the state of sewer infrastructure and the lack of public toilets in the area, citing health hazards and poor living conditions.
The residents were speaking at a community meeting convened by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) and the Centre for Innovation and Technology (CITE) on Friday.
The residents highlighted that the absence of ablution facilities for the public, particularly at the Pumula beer garden, is a significant issue. They advocated for the construction of public toilets outside the beer garden allowing residents to use them.
“The lack of public toilets is particularly concerning, given the number of people who visit the area daily,” they said.
Residents also noted that the absence of sand drains exacerbates the recurrent issue of clogged pipes caused by sand accumulation. To solve this problem, they demanded that new pipes be installed in place of the current ones.
“We request that the pipes be removed and replaced since they lack a sand drain,”said a resident.
They added that instead of sending representatives, engineers should visit the site and observe what is taking place.
One resident expressed shock at the current state of Pumula,questioning the presence and effectiveness of health inspectors in the area.
“This is the first time I have seen so much dirt in Pumula. Are there health inspectors?” a local asked.
Vendors in the area also stated that they face hard working conditions because of irregular refuse collection by the city council.
“The council often goes for weeks without collecting waste, leaving working areas littered with garbage,” said a resident.