Livingstone’s Libuyu residents demand for better toilets

By Ann Zulu

RESIDENTS of one of Livingstone’s oldest townships Libuyu have continued to use unsafe latrines whenever answering the call of nature, posing a health risks especially during the rainy season.

And The Southern Water and Sewerage Company (SWASCO) has stated that its project to build toilets in the area has stalled due to lack of funding.

The residents lamented that lack of toilets in the area was becoming a critical issue that needed to be addressed urgently.

Speaking on behalf of the residents Mary Mushota, told this reporter that people in the area were using unsafe latrines, while some have resorted to using plastic bags to relieve themselves, which she described as a health hazard.

Ms Mushota said the use of unsafe latrines and plastic bags was raising alarm of possible waterborne related diseases outbreak.

She appealed to government ensure that the project to construct toilets in area was completed on as soon as possible help curb the situation.

“People here have no toilets, they depend on pit latrines and nowadays some people have even resorted to using plastic bags to relive themselves which is not safe. Plastic bags filled with human faecal are all over

 “Government must come to our aid, and help us have decent toilets, because this is not health,” she said.

And SWASCO region manager Goodson Masheka the company was aware of the situation in Libuyu.

Mr Masheka said the utility was still waiting for the Devolution Trust Fund to fund its project of constructing toilets in the area.

He expressed worry that lack of proper toilets in the area might lead to outbreaks of diseases, hence the need to quickly fund the project.

“The project had stalled due to lack of funding, otherwise we are aware of the situation and its dangers,” Mr Masheka said.

He however, assured the people of Libuyu that NWASCO would deliver and complete the project as soon as funds are available.

The project dubbed toilets and jobs which started in 2009 was aimed to build new toilets and creating jobs for the local people.