Talent Gore
HARARE has over 2 000 illegal dumpsites, according to Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister, Mangaliso Ndlovu.
Speaking in Parliament, Minister Ndlovu said that in some cases, the dumps were located in the middle of roads in high-density areas.
He added that drain systems were clogged and litter was strewn across highways in the city, resulting in typhoid and cholera outbreaks.
He said the city had only five operational refuse compactors and this means waste was accumulating and fines had been imposed on the city council.
The Government has prioritised getting the compactors back on the road.
“With this state of affairs, it is not surprising that year in and year out we experience cholera and typhoid outbreaks.
“We, as residents are, to a large extent, responsible for the crisis we find ourselves in as a people,” said Minister Ndlovu.
“What we have realised is that out of the 42 refuse compactors that the city has, only five are operational.
“Clearly, they have no capacity to collect waste, which is why the waste is accumulating. While 42 may not be adequate, we believe that the City of Harare should be having not less than 150 such.
“We prioritised getting these waste compactors back on the road and we are utilising their devolution funds.”
Minister Ndlovu added that they had made arrangements with CMED to repair the compactors.
“It is a process that has been awaiting Treasury support which we are almost on the brink of getting.
“We will be seeking authority to extend the state of emergency so that we assist the city. Clearly they are failing, and it is our people who are bearing the brunt of these inefficiencies.”