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Terrence
Ndowora
Service delivery at Mushandike Business
Centre has deteriorated to unprecedented levels with the locals and business
community calling on the local authority, Masvingo Rural District Council
(RDC), to put in place public bins and establish a dumping site for proper
waste management.
The Environmental Management Agency
(EMA) noted with concern the wanton littering at the Mushandike Business Centre
during a clean-up exercise last week in line with the Presidential National
Clean-up Programme.
The campaign was attended by Masvingo District
Development Coordinator (DDC) Ray Hove, officials from EMA and Zinwa, Mushandike
traditional leadership and members from the local and business community.
The local business community chairperson
Lichana Mushandike said there was need for an establishment of a proper dumping
site to service the business center and the local community.
Mushandike said some residents were
dumping waste all over the business center with some waste finding its way to
the canal causing blockages.
“We appreciate the work done by EMA to
encourage us to make sure that our business center is clean but our major
problem is that we do not have proper dumping site, residents end up dumping
waste everywhere.
“Another pressing matter is that we do
not have public bins at the business centre and this has caused massive
littering. We call on the local authority to provide the public bins so that we
help keep our environment clean,” said Mushandike.
Masvingo RDC had promised to erect
proper vending markets at the business centre but nothing has materialized to
date leading to the sprouting of vendors much to the detriment of the
environment.
Masvingo RDC Ward 7 councilor Bennegina
Mudambiranwa said there was need for proper waste management systems in place
and the council was working on it.
“The council is aware of the service
delivery challenges experienced here at the business centre and efforts are
being made to come up with a solution.
“We want to establish a dumping site
and put public bins then come up with a refuse collection schedule so that
waste is managed properly,” said Mudambiranwa.
On the issue of markets, Mudambiranwa
confirmed the promises they made to build a market place saying that the
council had not neglected its promise and they were looking into it.
“The council is aware of the problem
and is going to fulfill its promise soon to build a market place for Mushandike
Business Center,” said Mudambiranwa.
Provincial environmental manager Gerald
Muusha urged the community to have the spirit of cleanliness and make sure the
business center was clean at all times to attract customers.
