Melinda Kusemachibi
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) recently launched an anti-litter blitz meant to penalize those who litter the environment as well as violating statutory provisions regarding waste management.
EMA Masvingo provincial manager Milton Muusha said EMA issued 77 orders and 84 tickets to those violating waste management statutory provisions as at January 19.
“As of January 19, 2022 end of day, EMA had issued 77 orders and 84 tickets to those violating waste management statutory provisions. For clarification purposes, orders are legal documents issued to a person or institution to take corrective measures in the case to sustainably manage waste.
“This varies from clearing illegal dumps, developing waste management plans for the institution, placing adequate litter receptacles in a public place or transport,” said Muusha.
Senior national Environmental Education and Publicity Officer Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and acting spokesperson Liberty Mugadza said that after EMA conducted a country wide anti-litter blitz starting on January 17, 2022, over 500 people were arrested for committing poor waste management offences.
“I can confirm that since January 17, 2022 countrywide, over 500 people have been prosecuted for committing poor waste management related offences.
“There were about 400 institutions, with the number slightly more than that and those have been issued with orders to do certain redress activities to ensure that they are compliant with the expectation to ensure we prevent littering in terms of waste generation as well as waste disposal,” said Mugadza.
He went on to say they continue to educate citizens about importance of cleanliness on the environment.
“We are continuing to monitor, enforce the legislation and educating the nation that we need to be good citizens who want cleanliness,” said Mugadza.
EMA enforced the legislative provisions and monitor the cleanliness of premises and participation on the day of national cleanup.
“No person shall discard, dump or leave any litter on any land or water surface, street, road or site in or at any place except in a container provided for that purpose.
“Any owner of a transport conveyance shall ensure that no litter is thrown from his transport conveyance.
“Every person or authority in control of, or responsible for the maintenance of any place shall at all times ensure that containers are provided which must be adequate and suitable for the discarding of litter.
“All generators of waste to each year submit annual waste reduction targets to ensure there is little residual waste on the environment,” read part of the legislative provisions.
