Mafa Moleko
The evident financial rough patch at the Maseru City Council (MCC) has deprived the council off its infrastructural plans to revamp the derelict and shabby streets of Maseru.
A walk in the streets of the capital city becomes an experience of discomfort at the wake of shabby buildings, malfunctioning lights, untidy streets to leaky drainage systems of sewerage that leave foul-smelling odour.
However, MCC laments its budgetary lack as an impediment to delivery of service as expected.
The MCC Spokesperson Khotso Makamo, told this publication that MCC sketched its plans in a bid to improve and facelift the city, but is negatively affected by lack of funds.
He said it is MCC responsibility to build the public transport terminals, roads and illuminating the city which has already been planned but the implementation has not yet started.
“We are aware of many cases in Maseru that involve the foul smell around central park caused by Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO) pipes, some street lights in town are not functioning and in some places there are no lights at all, but to maintain all these demands funding for MCC is still a huge problem,†he said.
He said the plans remain a dream in the absence of finances and that the finances that the council obtains from its activities and from the government are not enough to meet its target.
“Even though we have our everyday activities that help raise our funds, it is not enough to bring our dream to life because more money is needed,†he said adding that the council planned to enlarge terminals that have buildings and build more markets over the already existing two.
Makamo revealed that the lights are available but most of them are not working due to lack of funds. He said such lights will need electricity units which also increase costs.
Meanwhile, a passenger in one of Maseru terminals, ‘Makatleho Matli said it is very sad that the government of Lesotho does not care about them as bus terminals are uncovered, especially during this period of torrential rains.
“We are always queuing here at the terminal and when it rains we get wet and ultimately get sick. Sometimes it is very dark and we get robbed,†she said adding that they need the terminals to be covered and have lights installed to outwit criminals.
Thabiso Mokete who plies his trade as a street vendor, on the other hand mentioned that he experienced many cases where people get robbed just when they are herding to the terminals due to darkness.
“Our terminals leave much to desired, some are not paved and they do not have lights, they are not covered. This is why we get robbed in the terminals,†said Mokete.
Mokete urged the government to take notice of the fact that the terminals need to be renewed and re-built.
