Bulawayo cracks down on illegal dumping

Residents and traders in Bulawayo have been warned against illegal dumping, with city authorities saying the practice is damaging drainage systems and worsening environmental problems.

Ward 1 councillor Josiah Mutangi said the improper disposal of waste into sewer lines and drainage systems was creating serious challenges for the local authority and threatening public health.

"Residents should know once they dump refuse in our sanitary lines and drainage systems they are causing damage to the environment. If there is a sewage burst or a water burst, we are going to face challenges as a council to repair those bursts on time," said Cllr Mutangi.

He said the council had intensified awareness campaigns aimed at encouraging proper waste disposal practices among residents and traders.

"We are educating residents to put their refuse waste in bin liners instead of throwing it anywhere else. We have introduced high penalty fines for those who dump waste anywhere and once we find you doing such activities we will make you pay that fine," he said.

Cllr Mutangi urged residents to take responsibility for keeping the city clean, particularly in busy commercial and trading areas where waste accumulation has become a growing concern.

"This is our city and we must keep it clean. The market along 5th and 6th Avenue is where most of the waste is coming from and if we find waste at your premises we are going to make you pay a fine," he said.

He revealed that several people had already been fined for illegal dumping, adding that the penalties were intended to discourage repeat offences and promote compliance with city by-laws.

According to Mutangi, traders operating along 5th and 6th Avenue, as well as some shops in the area, were among the major contributors to the mounting waste problem.

"Mostly the waste is coming from traders along 5th and 6th Avenue and also some shops throw their waste outside in cardboard boxes and anywhere else. We are going to make sure these shops are operating according to the law," he said.

The councillor added that council inspectors would also conduct checks to ensure businesses were complying with licensing regulations and municipal by-laws.

"As you know most of these shops do not have licences, so we are going to go to each and every shop to make sure they are operating according to the law," said Mutangi.

He also announced that refuse collection trucks would be deployed daily in trading zones to improve waste management and prevent rubbish from piling up in the city centre.