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Filthy Toilets,A Point To Ponder In Chitima Market, Masvingo

Nyaladzi Lester Kole Environment

By Ashley Muchero

Vendors at Chitima Market are living in fear of Cholera and other diseases due to the filthy toilets that often get blocked without remedial action being taken.

Traders at the market claim Masvingo City Council has not cleaned the toilets at Chitima Market for several weeks and blockages have not been attended to.

People who are being affected the most are those who sell fruits and vegetables as well as those who prepare meals.

Sarah Nguni who has been doing business at tharket for the past four years said customers were shunning away from the place due to extremely bad odours.

“Most affected is the food section, People are thinking twice before coming here to buy meals, fruits and vegetables.This is a very bad situation for us and we feel the council has neglected it’s responsibilities”.

The informal traders also fear for their healthy and the safety of their minor children who do not know how to practice absolute caution in a dirty environment.

A customer who used to buy lunch at the market said she had since stopped due to the increase of flies and uncleanness.

Other traders said they were contemplating taking their demands to council in a forceful manner most probably through a demonstration against the environmental health services department.

Acting director in the department,Ngonidzashe Mapamula however disputed that the toilets were not being cleaned saying there were employees dedicated for that job alone.

“The toilets are being cleaned every day ,We have permanent cleaners who stays at Chitima.There was just a blockage which was attended to yesterday,” he said.

Housing and Community service director, Livison Nzvura said council was doing it’s best to keep the market clean despite that many of the traders were not paying anything to council.

“Council is not getting much from that market because people are not paying,yet we are still doing our best to keep the place clean.We encourage people to quickly notify us if they face such kind of challenges in the future,” he said.

Meanwhile council has warned residents of Runyararo West and Victoria Range that they will have to keep on enduring the buzzing flies invading their homes as there are no signs that an alternative piece of land on which to relocate the dumpsite will be found anytime soon.

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Nyaladzi Lester Kole

My full name is Nyaladzi Lester Kole, and I come from Plumtree, Zimbabwe. My educational journey began in primary school, where I attended three different institutions: Mlomwe Primary School for my early grades (1 to 3), Nopemano Primary School for my middle years (4 to 6), and culminating at Thekwane Primary School for my final primary year (Grade 7). For secondary education, I continued my studies at Thekwane High School, navigating Forms 1 to 6, where I developed a deeper appreciation for learning and personal growth. Following my secondary education, I pursued higher education at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), where I earned a degree in Media in Publishing Studies and proudly graduated in 2021. Professionally, I've had the privilege of working with a variety of organizations, gaining diverse experiences that have enriched my career. I began my journey at College Press, where I honed my skills as a copy editor. I then took on the role of personal assistant at Nomina Music, developing organizational and communication skills. My passion for storytelling found a home at CURE Children's Hospital of Zimbabwe, where I engaged with children through creative narratives. As a project manager at Vision to Africa, I coordinated efforts to bring impactful projects to fruition before transitioning to my current role at Scrivener as a publisher and writer, where I combine my love for literature and publishing. Beyond my professional life, I consider myself a multifaceted creative. I have explored various artistic avenues, including graphic design, photography, and music production. In the realm of music, I produce under the moniker Stainless Kole, where I express my musical creativity and collaborate with others to create unique sounds.

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