Court orders Masvingo to shut down dumpsite

The High Court has ordered the City of Masvingo to stop all waste disposal activities at the contentious dumpsite located in Runyararo West suburb, citing significant threats to public health and environmental rights. The ruling was delivered by Justice Sunsley Zisengwe on Monday, 24 June 2025, following a legal challenge brought by the Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA) and local resident Kudakwashe Mago.

The court issued an interdict preventing the city council from continuing to use the Runyararo West site for waste disposal. It also directed the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to ensure that the local authority complies with the order. Despite granting the interdict, Justice Zisengwe stayed its enforcement until 31 December 2025, allowing the City of Masvingo sufficient time to transition its waste management operations to the Cambria Farm landfill facility.

Residents, represented by human rights lawyer Yolander Chandata from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), argued that the ongoing use of the dumpsite infringed on their constitutional right to a safe and healthy environment as protected under Section 73 of the Zimbabwean Constitution.

In their court application, MURRA and Mago raised concerns about the hazardous conditions at the dumpsite, which lies perilously close to residential homes. They contended that the site posed serious health risks to nearby residents and contributed significantly to environmental degradation in the area.

The ruling is seen as a victory for local communities advocating for improved environmental justice and better urban waste management practices in Masvingo. The City Council is now under pressure to swiftly implement alternative waste disposal solutions to protect public health and safeguard the environment.