Staff Reporter
An investigation by the Harare Post publication has uncovered a corruption scheme where Harare City Council (HCC) caretakers are capitalizing on local vendors by charging them for overnight storage of their goods, including vegetables, bottled water, fruits and soft drinks, in public toilets.
The investigation revealed that caretakers at public toilets such as Copacabbana and Market Square are demanding bribes from vendors operating nearby, allowing them to store their leftover stock in toilet facilities overnight in exchange for a fee of up to US$5. This arrangement raises significant hygiene concerns and indicates a blatant disregard for council regulations.
Caretakers who spoke to the Harare Post on condition of anonymity described the situation as a mutually beneficial arrangement.
“We usually collect up to US$5 per night depending on the stock, and sometimes they give us tomatoes or vegetables equivalent to US$2.
“We use that money for transport to and from work because our salary is too little to take us through the month. Besides transport, we can also buy bread on our way home. Sometimes a vendor can opt to give you vegetables,” said one council caretaker.
The caretakers explained that they typically store the vendor’s goods inside empty boxes but noted that this service is not provided every day.
“Usually, we put their stuff inside empty boxes, but it's not every day,” another caretaker added.
Additionally, the implications for public health and safety are troubling, as public toilets are neither designed nor intended for the storage of perishable goods. This misuse can lead to the spread of diseases such as cholera, underscoring the urgent need for stricter enforcement of health regulations to protect citizens.
However, HCC Director of Health Services, Prosper Chonzi stated that the practice was totally unacceptable and unhealthy, and should be stopped immediately.
“Those people who are conniving with vendors should really be brought to book and brought to account because they are a danger to the health of the public at large,” said Chonzi.
This practice not only compromises the hygiene standards of public toilets but also highlights the desperate situation facing the caretakers with council salaries reportedly insufficient to cover basic living expenses, caretakers resort to such schemes to supplement their income.
