By Farai Chikore

THE once-bustling Chinhoyi bus terminus has degenerated into a dumping site, sparking concerns among commuters, residents and the local authority.

An eyesore and health risk, the bus station serves hundreds of people daily, but is now overrun with overflowing trash bins, scattered litter and debris, an abandoned bus and overgrown grass.

Jim Zacharia, a vendor, who trade at the Chinhoyi bus rank said the local authority should respond speedily before cholera cases are recorded.

“Other districts have recorded cholera cases, I fear for my health and safety. The stench and filth are unbearable,” said Zacharia.

Sinoa Primary School school development committee chairperson, Emmanuel Kwaramba, has consistently posted on social media complaining about the situation at the transport hub, at one point threatening to go and do the cleaning by himself.

“This was once a proud landmark, now it is an embarrassment and magnet for crime” said Kwaramba.

Chinhoyi municipality environment officer, Elfa Machava, acknowledged the issue during recently held budget consultative meeting.

“Most of our refuse compactors are down and we are using one only so, in the meantime we are priotising the central business district, we acknowledge the issue and we working to restore the terminus to its former glory,” promised council official.

The decline was mainly being caused by lack of regular maintenance, inadequate waste management and insufficient security.

If the situation remains like this the percentage of rodent-borne diseases will increase.

Several businesses have been affected by the terminus’s decline.

Due to urban decay and rise in neglect in public spaces President Emmerson Mnangagwa launched a national clean-up campaign which is observed every first Friday of each month.

New Ziana