commer

Commercialization of Public Toilets in Bulawayo City, Zimbabwe

Robert APUNYO Research Fellow

Public Affairs and Parliamentary Support Trust (PAPST)Zimbabwe

rapuny@yahoo.co.uk Cell: +263 777 503 727 (Zimbabwe)

+256 712 855 013 (Uganda)

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• Introduction

• Commercial Model

• Impact of this model

• Weaknesses of the model

• Way forward

OUTLINE

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Map of Zimbabwe showing Bulawayo City

• Economic sanctions fueled hyper-inflation to trillions % by 2008.

• Bulawayo City has a population of about 2 million people.

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METHODOLOGY

•Key Informant Interviews:

oCity Council Officials (3)oArea Councillor (1)oAttendants of toilets (10)

•Survey of toilet users [Exit polls] (237)

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Factors for Commercialization of Public Toilets

•Failure of Bulawayo City Council (BCC) to maintain public toilets due to the hard economic situation – (closed some)

•To curtail rampant vandalism of public toilets. Private operators provide security.

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COMMERCIAL MODEL

• In 2006 BCC passed a Resolution to lease out some of its 116 public toilets under the following conditions: 1. In each area half of the toilets remain free

for people who cannot pay for such services

2. Lessees renovate and manage toilets at a fee, for 3 year terms – renewable

3. A leased toilet pays USD 50 to BCC, monthly

4. BCC maintains all the sewer infrastructure

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Benefits of the Commercial Model

• BCC receives a monthly revenue of about USD 500 from the 9 leased toilet blocks.

• Protection of toilet facilities against vandals.

• Helped keep the toilets open and usable. 7

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Benefits … • Makokoba Community Pay Toilets:

• Donates sports kits to the local youth club

Donates medical kits to primary schools.

• Furnished the Office of the area Councilor.

• Employment to private operators.

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PRACTICES THAT HAVE OCCURRED

Public Toilet at 8th Avenue

Pay Toilet at Makokoba Suburb

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Practices that have occurred

Public Toilets Pay Toilets

Reported by all the 6 attendants interviewed

Reported by all the 4 Cleaners interviewed.

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Practices that have occurred

Public Toilets Pay Toilets

Substitutes:•Card boxes•Stones •Personal clothing•Polythene bags

Toilet paper dispensed by facility attendant!

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Practices that have occurred

Public Toilet Pay Toilet

No Soap! Soap is provided.

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Demand for Public Toilets

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Willingness to pay

Frequency Percent (%)

Nothing 27 11.4

Below USD 30 cents 131 55.3

Above USD 30 cents (Current fees)

79 33.3

Total 237 100

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CHALLENGES OF THE MODEL

• Limited operational hours

• Lack of clear

investment plan

• Some toilets are not economically viable for leasing.

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WAY FORWARD

• Keep toilets open until business winds up in the respective areas.

• Recommend for development of a clear toilet revenue investment plan.

• Facilitate installation of toilet paper dispensing machines to keep the toilet paper inside toilets.

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Thank You

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