Residents staying at Hwange Colliery concession compound are at a serious health risk as their ablution blocks have no water, pipes are damaged, and most of the toilets are broken.

The ablution blocks at number 1 and number 2 compound in Concession area cater for approximately eight thousand people but the blocks are now not enough to cater for the growing population.

The dire situation at these compounds has led to unhygienic behaviours where residents are using open spaces for defecation, further exposing the community to more health-related challenges.

According to the World Health Organization, safely managed water, sanitation and hygiene services are essential for preventing and protecting human health during infectious disease outbreaks, including the current Covid-19 pandemic.

In an interview with the Christian Voice, Apostle Siyaphambili Moyo, the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) hub coordinator for Hwange district said people at the Concession are sitting on health time bomb, he said the responsible authorities need to this matter with urgency before a life is lost.

"The situation at Concession is quite devastating. There is no water supply and people assist themselves anywhere. With the third wave of the Covid 19 pandemic upon us, it is worrying that such a large number of people are exposed as they do not have access to effective hygiene," said Moyo.

Water supply, sanitation and hygiene facilities are fundamental to stopping the spread of Covid 19 in communities and to mitigate secondary impacts on people's wellbeing. The ablution facilities situation has also left women exposed to harassment and abuse by some uncouth elements in the compound.

"The bathrooms are filthy and have no lighting system. Some people like myself prefer to bath outside at night as it seems like a relatively cleaner option. Unfortunately, at times you have some men torching us with lights to see us naked,” said one of the locals who preferred anonymity.

The toilets at Concession have been in this dilapidated state for the past five years. Church leaders in Hwange have been advocating for the improvement of the facilities with the relevant authorities but with no luck.

Pastor Lwisani Sibanda, a resident at the compound highlighted that residents had engaged with the Hwange Colliery Company Limited on the matter, but to no avail.

"Last year we tried to talk to the responsible authorities on the issue of lighting. We were advised that it is residents who constantly steal the lights each time they are replaced. The situation is deplorable," said the clearly distraught Sibanda.

"Children have nowhere to play, as the compound is used by residents as a toilet. It gets worse during the rainy season with the dirt flowing all over," said Mrs Similo Mwenje, a mother of three.

Captain Saini Bhidi, a member of the Covid Taskforce, representing the pastors indicated that he has been working with other pastors in the area to try and source assistance from partners and friends.

" We cannot afford to sit back when the situation at the compound is so deplorable, especially now with the covid-19 pandemic.  We are working with ZCA hub members to try and get any possible assistance to refurbish the facilities.