More than 250 students at the Zambia Institute of Special Education (ZAMISE) are reportedly sharing a single ablution block after the complete breakdown of sanitation facilities, raising fears of a possible public health crisis.
The situation came to light after Mainda Simataa, councillor for Kamwala Ward, conducted an inspection of the college’s toilet facilities following calls for urgent intervention.
According to Simataa, the institution’s aging sanitation infrastructure has collapsed, with sewage reportedly leaking into administration offices and student dormitories.
He described the situation as deplorable and a serious health hazard, warning that the college risks a possible Cholera outbreak or even temporary closure if urgent measures are not taken.
Some students have allegedly resorted to using plastic bags to relieve themselves due to the limited access to functional toilets.
The institution, located in Kamwala, is Zambia’s oldest special needs training college. Simataa noted that the sanitation facilities were constructed more than 60 years ago during the colonial era and have now outlived their lifespan.
To address the crisis, the councillor pledged to activate the emergency component of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to finance urgent rehabilitation works.
The estimated cost of the emergency intervention is about K300,000.
Authorities are expected to move swiftly to prevent further deterioration of sanitation conditions and safeguard the health and well-being of students and staff at the college.
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