The huts, commonly known as rondavels or maraundi in local lingo, and the flat-roofed blocks, also known as majaradha, are single-roomed structures that house families of three to seven people.
Council chairman, Councillor Alluwis Zhou said the council had submitted its application to Minister Tendai Bitis office seeking funding so that it can upgrade the sub-standard structures.
Zhou said the council had appealed to the Minister of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development, Ignatius Chombo to intervene and help restore sanity in the allocation of the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle houses which were occupied by outsiders who were not on the towns housing waiting list.
He said the Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle houses were meant to benefit the same residents of Mandava occupying the sub-standard structures but unfortunately outsiders were allocated the houses.
We have more than 5 000 families staying in these huts who use communal toilets. These conditions are not acceptable for an urban settlement hence the council’s decision to upgrade the units. We want the government to reallocate the Garikai/ Hlalani Khuhle houses so that the right people benefit, he said.
The council chairman said the residents occupying the sub-standard structures were prone to water borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery.
We have submitted our proposal for financial assistance to the Ministry of Finance and Minister Biti has promised to avail money for the sewer and water reticulation in this section.
We are yet to be advised on the amount to be allocated to us. Council on its part is laying new water and sewer pipes as part of the programme to phase out the communal toilet system. All the 5 000 families are going to benefit under this project. Each house will have its own toilet and tap water, he said.
Post published in: News