Councillors push for 4am street sweeping to tackle CBD litter

Bulawayo councillors have called for street sweepers to start work earlier and for additional security guards to be deployed at night to address litter and congestion in the Central Business District (CBD).

The proposals were made during a recent council committee meeting, where councillors raised concerns about litter left by vendors and trucks operating in the CBD at night.

Ward 10 Councillor Khalazani Ndlovu proposed that street sweepers should report for duty as early as 5am so that the CBD would be clean before congestion increases around 7am.

She also sought clarity on whether trucks delivering cabbages along G. Silundika Street at night were authorised to operate in the area, saying they contributed to litter.

“More security guards are to be hired to work night shifts so as to protect street sweepers from aggressive night vendors. However, the Human Capital Department is to be consulted before passing the resolution,” Ndlovu said.

Ward 19 Councillor Lazarus Mphadwe proposed that a formal request be submitted to the Chamber Secretary for security guards to work night shifts, deal with trucks and vendors, and protect street sweepers.

Ward 18 Councillor Felix Madzana, however, questioned whether vendors were responsible for attacks on street sweepers, saying vendors were already frequently involved in conflicts with municipal police over the confiscation of their goods.

He proposed that street sweepers should receive a risk allowance and begin work as early as 4am.

“The street sweepers are supposed to be given risk allowance and commence duty as early as 4 a.m. just like how the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) used to operate. Trucks which operate at night leave a lot of litter around G. Silundika street because they are not regularised hence security guards should be hired to regularise at night rather than protecting street sweepers,” Madzana said.

Madzana also raised concerns about the safety of security guards working at night, saying they needed to be properly equipped. He said workers operating during the day were also exposed to robberies.