Bus Rank Is A Haven For Thieves And Disease

ISAAC PINIELO
Correspondent | Monday August 9, 2010 00:00

 

The area is full of rotten and festering litter. Heavily soiled toilet papers, both fresh and dry human waste, cans, plastics and papers can be seen lying around which makes it an eyesore to most people, especially those that reside near that area.

The stench is even worse when it is raining as the moisture revives the unpleasant smell. 'You can't stand the smell that is exuded from that place when it is raining,' one man at the taxi rank commented.

For those residing near the area, on the other side of the railway line, it is not only the putrefying spectacle that bothers them, but also the possible threat that the bush poses to their security.

The other eyesore can be found underneath the flyover bridge that crosses the railway line near the rank. The place also poses a threat to people who cross under the bridge to the neighbouring Area W location.

There have been reports of people being frisked by thieves demanding that they hand over their cell phones or money.

Some people revealed that the area has also become a safe haven for people who smoke dagga and those who are into illegal gambling using dices, known in Setswana as 'Go chaya mataese'.

'Criminals have turned this area into a hiding place. We often see all sorts of things here. Sometimes thieves who snatch cell phones from people at the rank use this area as a getaway,' said 30 year-old Thatayaone Mariba, a tenant at the Botswana Railways houses.

She said in the past she and other tenants at the Botswana Railways houses requested the council to clear the bush in the area but in vain.

'The council has promised to clear the area but nothing has been done so far. We are still waiting and it looks like they will never come,' said Mariba.

An employee of Botswana Railways who preferred anonymity said the area has been an eyesore for quite some time. 'We fear for our health and most of the time when we are home we remain indoors so that we do not inhale the bad smell that comes from this area,' she said.

For Olekantse Sechele, 65, who owns a tuck-shop at the rank, the area has been like that for the past two decades that she has been at the rank.

'Instead of the situation becoming better, it has become worse. It seems the council has totally abandoned this area,' she said.

Sechele also noted that some commuters who come to the rank defecate and urinate there.

'Our only appeal is that the police should put stringent measures in place so that people can avoid defecating in this area,' she said.

Another tuck shop owner, Elinah Nthole (62) said the smell that comes from the litter-clogged bushes behind the rank irritates their customers.

'We sometimes try to clean the area for ourselves but cannot manage all of it as it is a vast area,' she said.

Her neighbour, 51-year-old, Virginia Stimela, also concurred that something has to be done, indicating that instead of the council concentrating on vendors, they should focus of addressing the filthiness of the area behind the bus and taxi rank.

'All the council is interested in is harassing the vendors who are trying to make a decent living and tend to forget about the more pressing issues such as cleaning the environment,' said Stimela.

Central Police Station commander, superintendent Mokuedi Mphathi, says the city of Francistown has pockets of bushes that are a hindrance to their efforts of fighting crime in the city.

He however indicated that they have sought assistance from the city council to clear some of the bushes so that criminals do not hide there.

He said although they have not received many reports of crime behind the rank, they are aware that crime such as cell phone theft and shoplifting are commonplace around the mall. He also noted that it requires the collective effort of all stakeholders to address the situation.

The station commander also commended the crime prevention clusters for having assisted in fighting crime throughout the city.

Meanwhile, MP for Francistown East, Phandu Skelemani, says he has appealed to the council to address the situation and he is still waiting for their response.

He said the city mayor is in a better position to know what measures are put in place to address the situation.

City mayor, Shadreck Nyeku, says he is concerned about the dirt in the city. He promised to alert the environmental officers in his council about the area behind the bus and taxi rank.

'We are already working on the untidiness of most areas around the city especially the trenches that run beneath the Thapama Hotel and the other one that is at the Galo Mall. Those trenches are very dirty and present a putrefying spectacle,' said the mayor.