Faith Duri
Financial constraints faced by Masvingo City Council have been cited as the major reason behind lack of speedy progress at Cambria Farm landfill project works as the new dumpsite that was scheduled to be operational last year in November is yet to be finished though it has already passed the May 2022 set deadline.
The new dumpsite is set to signal a marked shift from the use of old Runyararo West dumpsite which is posing a great health hazard to residents as waste is spilling to the residential area.
Speaking to TellZim News Town Clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said the project is not yet done since most of the money is coming from yet-to-be disbursed devolution funds.
“We couldn’t finish the Cambria Farm landfill project by end of May as we promised because most of the money that is supposed to be used on the project comes from devolution funding.
“We are expecting to receive the money as soon as possible since we have sent our budget. However, using internal council funds, we managed to buy some lining material and engage manpower that will be working there for the next two weeks,” said Mukaratirwa.
Speaking during a Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee tour in Masvingo held on March 30 2022, Eng Mukaratirwa said the first cell at the landfill was 60 percent complete and that financial constraints were the reasons behind slow progress on the project that was set to be completed in November 2021.
“The landfill project is subsiding on progress but we are now on 60 percent towards completing the first cell.
“Funding is our biggest challenge as we are currently using internal council resources. We are projecting our landfill to have a 30 year-life span and have decided to adopt the Victoria Falls standards,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.
The new landfill is expected to improve solid waste management in Masvingo, thereby safeguarding human and environment health hence appeasing residents who have been complaining over bad state of the dumpsite in Runyararo West Suburb.
Residents from Runyararo and Victoria Ranch suburbs have been affected by bad smell, flies and black smoke from burning tyres and garbage coming from the old dumpsite hence fearing they might cause diseases.
The old dumpsite has been in use since independence and is now a major source of population hence becoming a ticking health bomb.
