admin
Abigail Mawonde Herald Correspondent
Harare City Council has procured more refuse trucks in a development that should see regular collection of garbage. In an interview with The Herald yesterday, City of Harare’s corporate communications Manager Mr Michael Chideme confirmed the development.
“Yes, we bought the refuse trucks and they have since been delivered. Some are already working while the other 10 are still with the supplier in a bonded warehouse were duty issues are being organised,” he said.
Mr Chideme said there was urgent need to speed up the process since they received complaints everyday about uncollected garbage in some parts of the city.
“We have paid in full for the trucks but we feel priority should be given to sanitation issues so that the vehicles are released and do their work,” he said. Mr Chideme said council bought 30 refuse trucks of which only nine have so far been delivered. Council was last year slammed for spending $1,2 million on hiring vehicles for refuse collection.
Most of its compactors and skip trucks had developed major mechanical problems resulting in frequent breakdowns, leading to failure to regularly collect refuse. The amount spent was enough to buy at least 10 compactors. Council has been failing to collect garbage for some time resulting in the outbreak of waterborne diseases in suburbs like Mbare.
The council was forced to hire trucks during a typhoid outbreak last year. Harare last beefed-up its fleet of refuse collection trucks in 2010 and has not been able to provide proper service to the vehicles. Each truck is operating for an average of 18 hours daily leading to frequent breakdowns. Residents were forced to dump waste on street corners.
Last year Government approved a request by council to borrow $30 million to buy additional refuse trucks and equipment for road maintenance.
Online Reporter