Residents from Bulawayo’s Pumula suburb have resolved to take action regarding the disused illegal pits scattered around the ward, which they claim have become a death threat to their children.
The move follows the death of a 14-year-old boy last week while he was trying to save his friend from drowning in one of the pits.
Ward development committee secretary Thokozani Mabaleka told Southern Eye that sand poachers created the pits.
He added that residents have resolved to channel resources toward destroying all the illegal pits.
“During a stakeholders’ meeting, we resolved to work together and fight these sand poachers. Innocent lives are being lost. We have realised that our children love swimming. We will have to engage the Bulawayo City Council to rehabilitate swimming pools within our vicinity,” Mabaleka said.
He noted that Pumula suburb once had such a facility, adding that they have proposed using both the 3% retention fund and the Constituency Development Fund towards the revitalisation of swimming pools.
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“In the meantime, our member of parliament will provide fuel, and other stakeholders will also chip in with transport to ferry rubble that will be used to fill the pits,” Mabaleka said.
He stated that residents have resolved to contribute labour, adding that they will engage both the Bulawayo City Council and the Umguza Rural District Council, recognising that the illegal pits fall under both local authorities.
Mabaleka said they will also run awareness campaigns at schools and churches to sensitise the community about the dangers of swimming in such pits.
“These pits are created by sand poachers — some of them are our friends and relatives,” he said.
“We will approach them. We will also ask for slots during residents’ meetings.
“We will also have to effect citizen’s arrests for the illegal sand poachers.”
Ward 17 councillor Sikhululekile Moyo urged residents to unite in the fight against such illegal activities.
Barely a month ago, two 11-year-old girls drowned in the same pits.