The Sunday News
ENTUMBANE high density suburb has been labelled as the dirtiest residential area in Bulawayo, with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) calling on residents in the suburb to improve on their waste management methods and keep their area clean.
EMA provincial manager for Bulawayo metropolitan province, Mr Decent Ndlovu, told journalists last week during a tour of the city’s environmental hot spots, that the suburb had the highest amount of litter and number of illegal waste dumps in the city.
Other suburbs that were also cited as ranking high in terms of litter and illegal waste dumps in Bulawayo include Cowdray Park, Makokoba and Emakhandeni.
Mr Ndlovu warned residents in the areas that they faced prosecution if they continued illegally disposing waste at undesignated areas, adding that EMA would continue to conduct raids in those areas to monitor the situation.
He said residents in the “dirty” residential areas should be ashamed of their conduct and must work towards improving the status of their areas, noting that some parts of Makokoba were beginning to show signs of improvement.
“Our surveys have shown us that Entumbane ranks high in terms of illegal waste dumps and litter. Illegal dumping is rife in the area and we urge residents to improve on their waste management skills. We also have Cowdray Park, Makokoba and Emakhandeni as some of the problem areas when it comes to litter.
“I should warn residents in those areas that as EMA we will not hesitate to ticket anyone we find dumping waste at undesignated areas. We will continue to raid such areas as we seek to improve the situation. We have done so in some areas and it has worked,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu said residents in the above-mentioned areas should take a cue from residents in Sizinda, Nkulumane, Magwegwe North and Emganwini who have developed effective waste disposal systems.
He said these areas ranked as the cleanest residential areas in the city.
“If you pay a visit to Sizinda, Nkulumane, Magwegwe North and Emganwini the situation is different. Residents there have developed functional waste management systems which have seen their areas ranking as the cleanest in the city.
“They have their waste stashed in plastic bins, ready for collection by the local authority. Even if the local authority takes long to collect refuse, you hardly find litter flying around or waste dumped at undesignated sites,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He added that EMA, apart from fining litter bugs, would also engage residents in the concerned areas and educate them on proper waste management methods that will help keep their areas clean and safe from disease outbreaks.
Mr Ndlovu said councillors in the concerned areas should also help in educating residents on the importance of keeping their areas clean.
“As an agency our duty is not to punish only but we also educate residents on various environmental issues. We will continue to engage residents from the problem areas and teach them on the best waste disposal methods.
“We also urge them to play watchdog roles and make sure that their fellow residents don’t dump waste at undesignated areas. They should report whoever they see dumping waste or throwing litter everywhere. Local leaders should also assist in educating residents on the importance of having proper waste management methods. If waste is properly managed and sorted at the source it also makes it easy for the local authority to manage it. Waste management is a collective duty and everyone should actively participate towards creating a clean environment,” he said.
Some residents who spoke to Sunday News said they were being forced to dump waste at undesignated areas, owing to failure by the local authority to regularly collect refuse.
Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu, acknowledged that the local authority was facing challenges in collecting refuse, citing a depleted fleet of refuse collection trucks as the reason.
“We are trying our best under the circumstances. Ideally we are supposed to be operating with 21 compactors but at the moment, on a given day we will be having around 10 compactors working, which compromises our capacity.
“However, that should not be an excuse for residents to dump waste everywhere and at undesignated sites. The duty of waste management starts with residents,” she said.
Mr Ndlovu, however, noted that the city had witnessed a vast improvement in terms of environmental cleanliness in recent months, commending the local authority for trying its best under difficult conditions and with limited resources.
