Market's Vice Chairperson, Connex Alfred Muhuwa, has told Zodiak that most of the times, vendors queue to relieve themselves in the remaining one toilet since others are full and blocked.

Muhuwa says they have been engaging the council on the matter, but to no avail.

"We have been engaging the council many times to fix the blocked toilets. When pit latrines were full, we were using the two remaining flush toilet, but unfortunately, one stream blocked.

“We went there to notify them they promised to construct another one, but to no avail. Our hygiene is at risk because we are in most cases queuing to relieve ourselves. Imagine the whole market relying on one toilet," Muhuwa said.

Meanwhile, Thyolo district council Chairperson, Cresco Likwezembwe, has assured the vendors that the new toilet will be constructed by March this year because it was budgeted for in the 2021/2022 fiscal year.

"We put in the budget that at least we construct one toilet at the market. So am strongly sure that by the end of March, that toilet must be completed. It’s there in our budget," Likwezembe said.

This is coming at a time when sanitation issues have been compromised in the district following Tropical Cyclone Ana that has forced down some toilet facilities in the communities, raising fears of cholera outbreak if the situation remains unchecked.