Bulawayo residents and traders are backing tougher enforcement of anti-litter laws following a recent city-wide clean-up campaign, calling for higher fines to discourage illegal dumping and maintain public cleanliness.
Michael Ndiweni, executive director of the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Organisation, said the move to raise littering fines is necessary to ensure polluters take responsibility for their waste.
“I agree with Bulawayo City Council that they should increase fines for littering because it then becomes a deterrent for people who are going to litter and throw waste everywhere,” Ndiweni said.
“Traders must be educated about littering, but some already know it is bad. Yet, for one reason or another, there seems to be a negative attitude toward their city. People throw waste out of car windows or drop things like banana peels and ice-cream wrappers in the streets.”
Ndiweni highlighted the waste management challenges in busy commercial zones such as 6th Avenue, noting that shared responsibility between the council and traders is essential.
“6th Avenue generates a lot of waste. Traders must also be responsible in terms of paying so that the council can have enough resources to service and deploy refuse trucks to collect waste and take it to the landfill,” he said. “Cleaning on its own is not enough, as some people do not want to change their attitude.”
The Bulawayo City Council has blamed residents, vendors and businesses for much of the illegal dumping in city centres, particularly in sanitary lanes.
In response, the council is now strictly enforcing anti-litter by-laws, with fines ranging from US$30 to US$100 depending on the severity of the offence.
Officials say stricter penalties aim to reduce littering and promote civic responsibility, following a series of clean-up initiatives intended to restore public spaces and encourage sustainable waste management.
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