Mafume In Trouble Over Deplorable State Of Public Toilets
27 September 2024
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By A Correspondent| A human rights lawyer is calling on the City of Harare (CoH) to urgently address the deplorable state of public toilets in the capital, citing a violation of residents’ dignity and constitutional rights.

Roselyn Hanzi, a Harare resident and Executive Director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), has demanded immediate action from CoH to restore dignity for residents using these facilities. In a letter of demand sent on Wednesday, 25 September 2024, Hanzi highlighted how the condition of public toilets in the city violates several sections of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, including the right to human dignity (section 51), protection against inhumane treatment (section 53), and the right to a healthy environment (section 73(1)(a)).

The letter, written by her lawyer Tinashe Chinopfukutwa from ZLHR, followed alarming reports in the media about the poor state of the city’s public restrooms. Hanzi, who regularly pays her rates, noted that public toilets are often unusable due to their condition and the inappropriate conduct of CoH employees stationed at these facilities.

At several bus terminuses, CoH staff reportedly demand either a roll of toilet paper or a payment of US$0.50 from members of the public wishing to use the toilets. According to Hanzi, those unable to meet these demands are denied access. This issue was notably reported in a NewsDay article on 7 September 2024.

Conditions at the Charge Office bus terminus are particularly concerning. Women using the toilet are instructed that the facility is for urination only, not defecation, and CoH officials routinely admonish users for spending too much time in the restrooms. Hanzi further criticized the absence of functional flushing systems and sewer connections, which have forced CoH to adopt a bucket system in the toilets due to inadequate water supply. She also raised concerns about the lack of doors, which compromises users’ privacy.

Inside the toilet rooms, piles of used toilet paper litter the floor, a result of the broken sewer system and insufficient water supply, Hanzi said. She pointed out that the lack of handwashing facilities further exposes users to potential health hazards.

Hanzi argued that these conditions, particularly for women, are degrading and violate the right to dignity as enshrined in the Constitution. The practice of charging US$0.50 for tissue paper or requiring people to bring their own toilet paper, she said, breaches fundamental rights to human dignity and protection from inhumane treatment.

Citing the Urban Councils Act, Hanzi emphasized that CoH is legally obligated to maintain public toilets within its jurisdiction. The current conditions, she said, demonstrate a clear failure by the local authority to fulfill this responsibility, despite regularly collecting sewer rates from residents.

The state of the toilets also poses a public health risk, Hanzi warned, potentially exposing users to diseases like cholera and typhoid. This, she argued, violates the right to a healthy environment.

Hanzi urged CoH to take immediate steps to repair the flushing, sewer, and water systems in the city’s public toilets, and to stop the practice of charging for tissue paper. She also demanded the installation of doors in all public restrooms across Harare.

Should the local authority fail to comply, Hanzi has threatened legal action, with CoH bearing the costs of any subsequent litigation.