Residents and traders in Bulawayo have been warned against illegal dumping, with city authorities saying the practice is damaging drainage systems and worsening environmental problems.
Ward 1 councillor Josiah Mutangi said improper disposal of waste into sewer and drainage systems was creating serious challenges for the city.
“Residents should know once they dump refuse in our sanitary lines and drainage systems they are causing damage to the environment. If there is a sewage burst or a water burst, we are going to face challenges as a council to repair those bursts on time,” Cllr Mutangi told CITE.
He said the council had intensified awareness campaigns to encourage proper waste disposal and urged residents and traders to use bin liners instead of dumping rubbish in undesignated areas.
“We are educating residents to put their refuse waste in bin liners instead of throwing it anywhere else. We have introduced high penalty fines for those who dump waste anywhere and once we find you doing such activities we will make you pay that fine,” he said.
Cllr Mutangi said the city belonged to all residents and called on people to help maintain cleanliness, especially in busy trading zones.
“This is our city and we must keep it clean. The market along 5th and 6th Avenue is where most of the waste is coming from and if we find waste at your premises we are going to make you pay a fine,” he said.
He said several people had already been fined for illegal dumping, adding that the penalties were meant to deter others.
Cllr Mutangi identified traders and some shops operating in the area as major contributors to waste accumulation.
“Mostly the waste is coming from traders along 5th and 6th Avenue and also some shops throw their waste outside in cardboard boxes and anywhere else. We are going to make sure these shops are operating according to the law,” he said.
The councillor added that council inspectors would also check whether businesses in the area were complying with licensing requirements and city by-laws.
“As you know most of these shops do not have licences, so we are going to go to each and every shop to make sure they are operating according to the law,” said Mutangi.
He also said refuse collection trucks would be deployed daily to collect waste from trading areas to prevent rubbish from piling up.
Support CITE’s fearless, independent journalism. Your donation helps us amplify community voices, fight misinformation, and hold power to account. Help keep the truth alive. Donate today