Bulawayo eyes CCtv rollout to catch illegal dumpers

Bulawayo councillors have proposed the installation of surveillance cameras across the city as part of efforts to curb illegal dumping and littering, warning that worsening waste management challenges are undermining the city's Smart City aspirations.

The proposal emerged during a meeting of the Bulawayo City Council's Health, Housing and Education Committee, where councillors expressed concern over the growing number of illegal dumpsites in residential suburbs and increasing litter levels in the Central Business District (CBD).

Councillors described illegal dumping as a major environmental and public health threat that requires urgent intervention from both the local authority and residents.

During discussions on the city's cleansing report, Ward 17 councillor Sikhululekile Moyo highlighted the deteriorating cleanliness of shopping centres in several suburbs, attributing the problem largely to the growth of informal vending and poor waste disposal practices.

"There is a need for a joint meeting with the Town Lands and Planning Committee to clarify some of the developments taking place in the city, particularly the allocation of vending bays," Moyo said.

Other councillors argued that many residents were unaware of council by-laws and the penalties associated with illegal dumping, stressing the need for stronger public education campaigns.

"There is a need to intensify public education on council by-laws. The use of surveillance cameras could also assist in identifying and apprehending offenders," one councillor said.

The proposed use of surveillance technology comes as the council's cleansing section struggles with operational constraints, particularly a shortage of vehicles needed to enforce environmental regulations and collect refuse efficiently.

According to the cleansing report presented to councillors, enforcement efforts during April were largely concentrated on sanitary lanes, illegal dumpsites and vending areas within the CBD because of limited transport resources.

The report identified areas with high concentrations of illegal vendors as among the worst affected by littering.

Waste accumulation also increased significantly during the final week of April due to heightened activity linked to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) and Independence Day celebrations held in Maphisa.

Councillors said several parts of the city centre were visibly dirty and called for a collective approach to maintaining cleanliness.

"There is also a need for grass cutting in some areas, particularly along Masiyephambili Road. Communities must take ownership of keeping their surroundings clean," councillors said.

Illegal vending was singled out as a major contributor to littering, with councillors calling for tougher enforcement measures and stiffer penalties against offenders.

Some warned that Bulawayo's vision of becoming a Smart City could be compromised if the city fails to address persistent refuse collection and waste management problems.

"The Smart City concept is being defeated by illegal dumping and inadequate refuse collection. The city has too few refuse trucks and limited resources, making it difficult to maintain the required standards of cleanliness," said one councillor.

Despite the challenges, the council reported progress in its efforts to improve waste management through partnerships with communities and the private sector.

During April, six clean-up campaigns were conducted across Bulawayo with support from private companies, community organisations and non-governmental organisations. In addition, eight health education sessions were held in areas identified as major waste generation hotspots.

The local authority also supplemented its refuse collection efforts by engaging trucks from the Bulawayo Waste Management Truckers Association to assist in clearing accumulated waste.

Bulawayo City Council director of health services, Edwin Sibanda, said the city expected its refuse collection capacity to improve significantly following indications that refuse trucks procured from Belarus by the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works would soon be delivered.

"Improved refuse collection capacity will help address waste accumulation hotspots and strengthen the city's efforts to maintain cleanliness," Sibanda said.

As councillors push for surveillance technology and stricter enforcement measures, the city faces the challenge of balancing public education, community participation and improved service delivery in its bid to create a cleaner and smarter urban environment.