Story by Yolanda Moyo
GOVERNMENT says it will ring-fence waste disposal funds to ensure local authorities implement sustainable waste management systems.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu at a recent clean-up campaign meant to reduce the risk of waste-related disease outbreaks in Bulawayo.
“We want to be able to trace that these are not used for other purposes. We know that priorities compete. If the residents have paid for their refuse to be collected we want to make sure that happens in all local authorities. It is the President’s vision to see our nation clean and we cannot talk about Vision 2030 when we do not have sustainable waste management systems,” he said.
Stakeholders are considering the City of Victoria Falls’ strategy where corporates adopt streets as a way of maintaining cleanliness in Bulawayo.
“We are embarking on encouraging our stakeholders to make sure that we adopt streets so that we clean the environment that we are operating from. The city is facing a shortage of waste bins and as the business community, it is high time we donate bins so that streets are not littered,” noted Mr MacKenzie Dongo, ZNCC Matebeleland Chapter’s chairperson.
Waste management is one of the most pressing emerging issues confronting urban local authorities and it is estimated that over 1.5 million tonnes of solid waste are generated every year in Zimbabwe’s urban areas.
