Beitbridge health crisis warning

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has warned that Beitbridge will face a full scale health crisis if the waste management challenges faced in the border town are not addressed before the rainy season commences in earnest.

Beitbridge town which faced the worst cholera outbreak in 2008 is teetering on the brink of a similar health crisis according to environmental watchdog EMA.

The warning by EMA comes as the agency's board members visited the Garikai /Hlalani Kuhle suburb where human waste  and litter is being dumped at nearby bushes.

EMA's acting board chairman Mr Felix Moyo said with the Meteorological Services Department having issued flood warnings this season there is need for the government and its partners to compliment council efforts in tackling the environmental challenges in the border town.

Beitbridge town secretary Mr Loud Ramakgapola says while council has made progress in installing water and sewer reticulation systems at Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle suburb, mobile sanitation and water facilities could go a long way to avert a crisis.

According to the local authority, the town has a population of 40 000 and an estimated 14 000 transit population a day which generates about 600 tonnes of litter a month.

The shortage of resources has negatively affected the collection of refuse resulting in council only managing to collect 520 tonnes a month.