Story by Zanele Ndlovu
BULAWAYO residents are up in arms with the local authority for failing to find a lasting solution on emissions from the Ngozi Mine landfill.
High smoke emissions from the nearby Ngozi Mine landfill are an everyday dosage for the Cowdray Park residents in Bulawayo.
The community is worried they will have far-reaching implications on both the environment and residents’ health.
“The smoke is harmful and bad to our health because we inhale it day and night. It is mostly better during the day but at night, it clouds the whole area. There have been times when the city council would come and put out the fires, but they always return. The place is also a breeding ground for flies which causes many diseases’’
For others, the landfill has not only affected health but also disrupted livelihoods.
“The emissions leave a bad smell on clothes, even those we hang outside during the day,” a resident who runs a clothing business lamented.
“I cannot sell anymore because the smoke smell clings to the fabric. I have also been diagnosed with several respiratory conditions. This is a serious health threat.”
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has implored the local authority to properly manage the landfill.
“The burning of waste at the landfill contributes to air pollution and releases greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which drive climate change,” EMA’s Provincial Environment Manager for Bulawayo Metropolitan, Sithembisiwe Ndlovu said.
“During the rainy season, these pollutants can also leach into groundwater, contaminating it. It is essential that the landfill is properly managed and fires are prevented.”
Contacted for comment, Bulawayo City Council spokesperson Mrs Nesisa Mpofu did not respond to questions sent to her.
Located in Bulawayo’s Richmond suburb, Ngozi Mine was originally established by the local authority as a waste disposal site before the expansion of the city.
The country has set a shining example of managing waste without harming the environment through the Geo Pomona waste management model.
According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution from dump sites such as Ngozi Mine can cause respiratory diseases such as asthma.
