….: 45 years after independence
By Dumisani Ndlovu
A shocking exposé has revealed that government departments in Zimbabwe are still grappling with primitive working conditions, 45 years after the country gained independence.
The Old Prison Complex, which houses several ministries, including Primary and Secondary Education, Land, Women’s Affairs, and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), is plagued by dilapidated infrastructure, inadequate sanitation, and a general lack of maintenance.
A visit to the complex reveals a disturbing picture. Toilets in the men’s section do not flush, while workers are forced to carry buckets of water for basic hygiene. The roofs and ceilings leak, drenching important records and registers, rendering them useless. The overall atmosphere is one of neglect and decay.
During a tour of the premises, a startling discovery was made behind the District Development Coordinator’s (DDC) offices. A men’s toilet, devoid of doors, was found in close proximity to the offices. This unacceptable situation was further highlighted when a man was seen relieving himself in full view of female officers, causing inconvenience and discomfort.
The Public Works department has come under fire for its deliberate neglect of the complex’s maintenance. For the past two years, the Old Prison Complex has been operating in the dark, with security officers forced to use their phone torches to navigate the premises. The department’s failure to purchase light bulbs, costing a mere fifty cents, has put the security officers at risk.
“It’s a ticking time bomb,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. “We’re not just talking about the health risks; we’re also talking about the dignity of our workers. It’s unacceptable that in this day and age, we’re still using the bucket system.”
Another official from the Ministry of Land lamented, “It’s a symbol of failure. Those in power seem to profit from chaos, and the basics remain deliberately broken. We’re not asking for luxuries; we’re asking for basic human rights.”
The situation demands urgent attention and a comprehensive overhaul of the government’s infrastructure and maintenance policies. The Public Works department must be held accountable for its negligence and failure to provide basic amenities to government employees.
As the country celebrates 45 years of independence, it is imperative that the government prioritizes the modernization of its facilities and ensures a safe and healthy working environment for its workers.
The District Development Coordinator, Tarisai Mudadigwa, said efforts are being made saying he had been collaborating with the Public Works Department to reach a resolution. “We have been working with the Public Works Department to resolve this issue, but it’s taking longer than expected,” Mudadigwa commented. He attributed the delays to the department’s internal processes, which he acknowledged could be time-consuming
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