Growing concern has been raised over the inadequate public sanitation facilities in Kadoma, with commuters, transport operators and residents urging authorities to take immediate action to address the city's shortage of accessible public toilets.

The concerns were raised by the Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ), which said commuters and transport crews are being forced to endure difficult conditions despite transport operators contributing to local authority revenues through bus vouchers and rank discs.

PAZ said the situation was undermining the dignity of transport workers and inconveniencing thousands of people who pass through the city daily.

"Commuters in Kadoma are having difficulty accessing public toilets, yet transport operators pay for them through bus vouchers and rank discs. Even transport crews are being denied access to public toilets, even though the rank is their workplace. This is very unfair and takes away their dignity as professionals," the association said.

According to PAZ, Kadoma's central business district has limited public sanitation facilities, leaving residents and travellers with few options.

"The City of Kadoma is not moving with time. We have only one toilet in the CBD and one near the railway crossing at Waverly Farm, popularly known as paWaverly or paJamaya. There are no council toilets unless you cross the dangerous Bulawayo Highway at the corner of Waverly High School, where there is a council pay toilet," said the association.

PAZ noted that all the available public toilets are operated by a community-based organisation and called for a more inclusive approach that caters for both paying and vulnerable users.

"We demand two models of toilets: a pay toilet for those who can afford it, and a free toilet for low-income earners and the less privileged. They have rights too. That is our prayer as PAZ."

The issue has resonated with residents, some of whom say the sanitation challenges are no longer merely an inconvenience but a matter of public dignity and safety.

One resident described the advocacy campaign as timely.

"This is commendable advocacy. The toilet situation across the country is not good," the resident said.

Another commuter questioned why access to basic sanitation had become a financial burden.

"But why do we have to pay for something that's supposed to be free?" he asked.

A traveller who recently passed through Kadoma said the shortage of facilities was forcing people into risky situations.

"I travelled through Kadoma last week. The situation is embarrassing. We crossed the Bulawayo Highway just to find a toilet and nearly got hit by a car. The city council needs to wake up," the traveller said.

Another resident said the conditions reflected deeper challenges in local service delivery.

"This is why we need better public services. The government collects our taxes but denies us basic dignity. The mayor of Kadoma needs to come and walk through the ranks and see what commuters face daily. This is not acceptable in 2026."

The growing concerns come at a time when local authorities across the country are under increasing pressure to improve service delivery and modernise urban infrastructure in line with growing populations and changing public needs.

For many commuters in Kadoma, however, the issue remains simple, access to a clean, safe and convenient toilet should not be a daily struggle.

Residents and transport operators said the city must prioritise sanitation facilities to restore dignity, improve public health and ensure that basic services keep pace with the demands of a modern urban centre.