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GWANDA (The Citizen Bulletin) — As night falls on Gwanda town, Matabeleland South, travelers gather at Chicken Inn at Glow Petroleum, their last stop before darkness sets in.
However, when the outlet closes at 10pm, the lack of public restrooms forces many to seek relief behind bushes near the bustling fuel station.
Sinikiwe Mpofu, a frequent traveler between Bulawayo and Johannesburg, is wary of the challenge.
“When buses arrive early in Gwanda and Chicken Inn is closed, we have no options. A public restroom open all the time would be a huge relief.”
Sinikiwe Mpofu
Mpofu’s frustration highlights a broader issue in Gwanda, where inadequate sanitation facilities plague the town.
Behind Glow Petroleum and near the market area, open human waste, used diapers, and other refuse accumulate, creating a strong odor and significant health risks.
The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of proper sanitation in preventing diseases like diarrhea, which poses particular risks to children.
Despite the central government’s allocation of approximately $1.5 billion to health in the 2023-24 national budget, many areas in Gwanda still lack functional and accessible toilets.
Local authorities, including Gwanda Municipality, receive devolution funds annually from the national fiscus, but it remains unclear how these funds are utilized or how priorities are determined.
Contacted for comment about the sanitation crisis, Gwanda town mayor, Councillor Thulani Moyo, said his local authority will investigate and “find possible means to improve hygiene in the town.”
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA), whose mandate is to oversee environmental health and sanitation in public spaces, acknowledged the problem and promised action, but progress has been slow.
“We need immediate action to improve public facilities and ensure they are available around the clock,” says Decent Ndlovu, EMA Matabeleland South regional director.
As the hygiene situation in Gwanda lingers, calls for round-the-clock functional restrooms have also been growing.
“We can’t continue like this,” Mpofu insists. “We need proper facilities to ensure everyone has access to clean restrooms 24/7.”