BCC wants community plumbers to bring their own cars and equipment, cllrs want requirements relaxed

Bulawayo councillors have urged the local authority to relax its stringent requirements when engaging community plumbers after it emerged that only a few responded as most of them did not have vehicles and their own equipment.

The local authority has faced criticism from residents for taking too long to attend to sewer bursts.   

The local authority has attributed the delay to a shortage of fuel, personnel and the economic meltdown.

As a part of a cocktail of solutions, it was suggested that the council engages community plumbers to ease the work load.

According to the latest report of the environmental management and engineering services committee, most of the community plumbers did not meet council requirements.

“There were requirements that these plumbers needed to have, these included a motor vehicle and plumbing equipment,” the report read in part.

Ward 4 Councillor Silas Chigora said there was a need to relax some of the requirements for community plumbers and re-advertise the opportunity.

Meanwhile, ward 7 councillor Shadreck Sibanda did not support the hiring of community plumbers citing damages that could be caused to the existing sewer infrastructure.

 Ward 20 councillor alderman Ernest Rafomoyo said instead of the council hiring community plumbers, more qualified plumbers could be recruited to beef up the current team of plumbers.

The Deputy Mayor, councillor Mlandu Ncube explained that council issues and operations should be understood.

“The issue of community plumbers was resolved.  A vacancy advertisement was published. Most of the respondents did not have personal vehicles,” he said.

Ncube suggested that Council could engage school leavers undertaking studies in plumbing and drain laying in council school leaver facilities.