By Virginia Njovo
Inadequate management of solid waste has become a pressing issue for Masvingo City Council (MCC) as mismanagement is not only causing environmental and health risks but also obstructing overall cleanliness of the City.
MCC has been struggling to effectively handle the increasing amount of solid waste generated by the city’s growing population which is the main reason behind flooding of infrastructure throughout the city when it rains.
Lack of proper waste separation at source, limited recycling facilities and insufficient waste disposal infrastructure have worsened the problem and as a result garbage piles in the streets, open spaces and even water bodies causing pollution.
City of Masvingo Chief Health Officer Suzanne Madamombe said they were trying as much as they could to handle the situation in the city using various strategies.
“The local authority has constructed an engineered landfill for proper solid waste management, which will ensure that all waste is managed properly and doesn’t pose a health hazard to the community,” said Madamombe.
Madamombe said council was conducting campaigns to enlighten residents on proper waste disposal.
“Anti-littering blitzes are being done to ensure every producer of solid waste has a standard receptacle with a lid to ensure proper storage of waste before collection, while integrated solid waste management is being done through 5Rs concept where most focus is done in reducing, reusing and recycling. The waste separation programme has already been launched and is being piloted in Eastvale,” said Madamombe.
Late last year council promised to put gates on sanitary lanes as residents were now in the habit of using the lanes as dumpsites. Madamombe said they were still mobilizing resources for the programme.
“Engagements to install sanitary lane gates are ongoing to ensure that all sanitary lanes are accessible and kept clean, it is our duty to monitor and keep those lanes clean,” she said.
In 2023 Council gazetted City of Masvingo Anti-Litter By Law supported by the Public Health Act and the EMA Act with a fine prescribed by council of not less than five dollars for littering.
Statutory Instrument 243 of 2023 of Masvingo City, Environment and Natural Resources Conservation Bylaws Section 36.1 states that it was an offence to litter on surfaces.
The SI states that no person is allowed to throw any litter on any land or water surface, street, road or site in any place except in a container provided for that purpose or at a place specifically designed for that purpose.
In Masvingo, various companies have invested in solid waste management and these include Stable Packaging which collects HDPE plastics and clear PET.
Masvingo Urban Recycling Company collects Pet and Aluminium cans while USE AGAIN collects soft plastic, cardboard boxes and bottles.
Waste Solutions collects clear and brown cans, together with individual waste pickers who sell outside the city.
Recently, council notified residents that it had two refuse compactors servicing the whole city due mechanical issues and this prompted council to resort early morning refuse collection to address the challenge.
The delay in collection of refuse in residential areas has a bearing on waste management adversely as animals like dogs overturn bins scattering litter in the streets which later block drainages.
Masvingo City Council Mayor Alec Tabe is on record saying council intends to upgrade the drainage system in the city after the recent flash floods left many properties soaked in water.
