By Tatiana Mhararira
Masvingo City Council’s old dumpsite in Runyararo West has been said to be causing headaches for Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in Masvingo Province with the agency receiving complaints from residents over pollution coming from the site.
Addressing journalists at a media workshop hosted by EMA at Urban Lifestyles Hotel, Masvingo Provincial Manager, Milton Muusha said poor waste management at the old dumpsite was becoming a cause for concern in Victoria Ranch and Runyararo West.
“Masvingo City’s old dumpsite is giving us some headaches. We have sleepless nights receiving calls every day from residents who would be complaining of pollution at the dumpsite,” Muusha said.
Muusha said it was relieving that the local authority was working on another sanitary landfill that could start operating soon putting an end to continuous pollution in areas around the old dumpsite.
“It is relieving though that the local authority is working on another sanitary landfill that could start operating soon and putting an end to continuous pollution in areas around the old dumpsite,” said Muusha.
He added that poor waste management can be attributed to the growth of settlement at Victoria Ranch and local authorities have failed in the collection and safe disposal of waste.
“Poor waste management has risen due to growth of settlement at Victoria Ranch. There is limited capacity by local authorities for collection and safe disposal of waste,” said Muusha.
Muusha also said water pollution is one of the environmental problems giving the agency headaches.
“Water pollution is caused by poor management of industrial waste and effluent water. Industries dispose industrial waste and hazardous chemicals into Mucheke River and other surrounding water sources,” he added.
Muusha stated that water pollution has led to high water treatment costs.
“Due to water pollution of hazardous chemicals that has led to high water treatment costs with chemicals such as aluminum, HTH chlorine, carbon and others are very expensive to purchase,” said Muusha.
There has been ongoing conflict between residents in the western suburbs of Masvingo city with Masvingo City Council over the Victoria Ranch dumpsite, with smoke and flies coming from the dumpsite threatening the health of many residents there.
