More Bat Shit Crazy from Zimbabwe

The BBC reports

Synchronised toilet flush held in

 Zimbabwe's Bulawayo

Many residents of Zimbabwe's second city have simultaneously flushed their toilets, as part of an official attempt to prevent blocked sewage pipes.

Bulawayo Mayor Thaba Moyo told the BBC the "big flush" would keep pipes wet and so prevent them getting clogged up.

Local government it would seem provides entertainment the world over.

A severe drought and years of poor maintenance have meant Bulawayo residents often go without running water for three days at a time.

The first synchronised flush took place at 19:30 local time (17:30 GMT).

So more synchronised flushes to come.

'A joke'

Council workers had visited townships warning people that they risked a fine if they failed to take part.

Mr Moyo said the lack of water in the sewage pipes had already led some to burst.

Not sure how that works but I have always suspected that there is something in the Zimbabwe air that causes insanity and I guess bursting is the pipes equivalent although that would be insanitary.

Many of the city's million residents are believed to have flushed at the appointed hour.

No fines for them.

"I made sure my wife and children flushed the toilet at 19:30 to avoid blocking our own toilet. So far, the flushing of toilets was a success here in Cowdray Park township," one resident, human rights activist Dumisani Mpofu, said.

I kind of like the mental picture I have of Mrs Mpofu and the kids collectively flushing the toilet.

According to the Associated Press, the synchronised flush will now take place at the same time twice a week - on Mondays and Thursdays - though residents will of course be able to flush their toilets at other times too.

I wonder what they do for entertainment in Bulawayo on other days of the week.

The BBC's Thabo Kunene, in Bulawayo, says that most houses in the city, even in townships, do possess toilets which flush, unlike in many African countries.

But he says that due to a lack of water, many people have been using buckets of water instead.

Sensible approach if you think about. In a drought pore water into the sewage. 

The proposal has had a mixed reception in the city.

"Our leaders are a joke," said Petros Ncube. "What they should be doing is finding money from donors to buy new sewer pipes," he said.

Thank you Petros Ncube.

As you can see from the top image Zim dollars are not good for the pipes and unfortunately pretty much useless when it comes to buying new pipes as well