The Sunday News
Nokukhanya Moyo, Sunday News Reporter
THE Environmental Management Agency has named Makokoba as Bulawayo’s dirtiest suburb overtaking Entumbane, adding a lot needed to be done to change the mindset of people living in the city’s oldest suburb.
EMA provincial manager for Bulawayo Mr Decent Ndlovu said Sizinda and Nketa were the cleanest suburbs in the city.
There has been some improvement in Entumbane and Nkulumane, he said, while Cowdray Park, Hyde Park and Pumula suburbs are the most affected by land degradation.
“We appeal to people from Makokoba to take note of illegal dumping sites as the suburb is now the worst in Bulawayo. We will start moving at night to catch those who dump waste illegally,” said Mr Ndlovu in an interview following the latest patrol the organisation carried out last month to gauge the cleanliness of the city suburbs.
“From our visit last year, Entumbane had greatly improved and we hope Makokoba will follow suit. Waste levels keep increasing in Makokoba and there is a lot to be done to bring an end to illegal dumping.”
He said the dirtiest areas in Makokoba are those along St Columbus High School and the Renkini Long Distance Bus Terminus.
“Churches always do clean up campaigns in Makokoba but the residents fail to maintain cleanliness after clean ups,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said anyone found dumping waste will be prosecuted.
Mr Ndlovu said land degradation was threatening infrastructure such as roads and electricity pylons. In some areas, Mr Ndlovu added, deep pits have been opened and left uncovered posing serious danger to people.
“Anyone who intends to engage in sand transportation should have a sand transportation licence and should obtain the sand from licensed sites. The licences are issued to local authorities as well as individuals who are able to produce a detailed excavation and environmental rehabilitation plan for the site to prevent land degradation. We are engaging the police and local authorities to arrest anyone found guilty of any of these offences. There is no negotiation for these offences when found guilty.”
He said some local authorities’ failure to collect refuse was leading to the mushrooming of illegal dumping sites in residential areas. Mr Ndlovu said some commuter omnibus workers were urinating in bottles before throwing them around the Renkini area.
