EMA warns Chiredzi council over solid waste

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has warned that its patience has worn thin and it will soon take stern action against Chiredzi Town Council for failing to put up a proper dumping site for the urban settlement.

He said a hefty fine will soon be imposed on the local authority over the problem.

EMA district officer, Peter Mugodhi said Chiredzi has no proper dumping site and this was forcing people and companies to dump litter all over. He said he had held many meetings with the local authority to address the problem but to no avail.

He said his patience had worn thin and he would heavily fine Chiredzi Town Council soon. He added that Council was not serious about finding a proper dumping place.

Rubbish in the town is just being dumped at a place that is next to the grave yard and few meters away from a residential area.

Chiredzi Town Council Chairman, Francis Moyo said his council had tasked a team to establish a proper dumping site for the town and said the issue will be addressed soon.

"We know about the issue and our engineering team is working flat out to establish a site where our dumping site will be. The issue already went through the full council meeting and it is only about time before the issue is finally addressed," said Moyo.

However, Mugodhi warned that the hefty fine is coming against council within days.

"I have lost patience with them. They keep promising that they will address the problem but to no avail. Our duties have been paralysed since we are no longer able to punish rubbish offenders because with this situation they have nowhere to throw away their litter.

"We have shops like Chicken Inn which collect their own rubbish on a daily basis but they have nowhere to throw that rubbish. That is creating a lot of problems for the town as people end up throwing litter everywhere," said Mugodhi.

Josephat Tizirai who is the chairman of United Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association lambasted council for doing nothing about the problem despite persistent complaints from the residents. He said elected councilors forget about the issue the moment they get into office as they start to enjoy freebies.

"This issue was tabled in full council meetings many times but there is no headway. The problem is the city fathers relax when elected into office and focus on party politics rather than implementing what they promised people during campaigns," said Tizirai.

Organising Secretary of Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association Jonathan Shonhiwa said the dumping of rubbish at a cemetery is disrespect of the dead. He said burning of the rubbish near residential area is also causing pollution which is affecting residents on a daily basis.