Bulawayo mulls surveillance cameras to curb illegal dumping

BULAWAYO councillors have proposed the installation of surveillance cameras across the city to help identify and apprehend litterbugs as the local authority battles a growing waste management crisis that is threatening its Smart City ambitions.

The proposal emerged during the Bulawayo City Council’s Health, Housing and Education Committee meeting amid concerns over the proliferation of illegal dumpsites and increasing levels of litter in residential suburbs and the city centre.

Councillors described illegal dumping as a major environmental and public health challenge requiring urgent intervention.

Speaking during deliberations on the city’s cleansing report, Ward 17 councillor Sikhululekile Moyo said shopping centres in many suburbs were becoming increasingly dirty due to the proliferation of vendors and illegal dumping.

“There is a need for a joint meeting with the Town Lands and Planning Committee to clarify some of the developments taking place in the city, particularly the allocation of vending bays,” she said.
Another councillor said many residents were unaware of penalties associated with illegal dumping and called for greater public awareness.

“There is a need to intensify public education on council by-laws. The use of surveillance cameras could also assist in identifying and apprehending offenders,” said the councillor.

The concerns come at a time when council’s cleansing section is battling operational challenges, including transport shortages that have limited enforcement activities.

According to the cleansing report, the enhanced enforcement and compliance team focused mainly on sanitary lanes, dumpsites and vending areas within the Central Business District during April due to a shortage of vehicles.

The report noted that heavy littering was particularly prevalent in areas with a high concentration of illegal vending activities.

Refuse accumulation also increased significantly during the final week of April due to increased activity associated with the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo and Independence Day celebrations in Maphisa.

Councillors described parts of the Central Business District as visibly dirty and called for greater community participation in maintaining cleanliness.

“There is also a need for grass cutting in some areas, particularly along Masiyephambili Road. Communities must take ownership of keeping their surroundings clean,” they said.

The councillors blamed illegal vendors for contributing significantly to littering and called for stiffer penalties against offenders.

They warned that Bulawayo’s Smart City vision was under threat due to ineffective refuse removal and increasing incidents of illegal dumping.

“The Smart City concept is being defeated by illegal dumping and inadequate refuse collection. The city has too few refuse trucks and limited resources, making it difficult to maintain the required standards of cleanliness,” said one councillor.

Despite the challenges, council said efforts were being made to improve waste management.

In April, six clean-up campaigns were conducted across the city with the participation of private companies, community groups and non-governmental organisations, while eight health education sessions were held in areas identified as high waste generators.

Council also augmented refuse collection services by engaging trucks from the Bulawayo Waste Management Truckers Association to help clear accumulated waste.

Bulawayo City Council director of health services Mr Edwin Sibanda said the city expected relief from its fleet challenges following indications from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works that refuse collection trucks sourced from Belarus would soon be delivered.

“Improved refuse collection capacity will help address waste accumulation hotspots and strengthen the city’s efforts to maintain cleanliness,” he said.