Online Reporter
Mkhululi Ncube and Nokuthaba Ncube, Chronicle Reporters
THE Richmond Landfill Site, locally known as Ngozi Mine, is once again causing alarm in Bulawayo and Government circles after a fire has been burning for two weeks, emitting thick smoke over parts of the city.
Authorities have cited poor management at the site as the primary cause of the recurring fires, which have become not only a persistent environmental hazard but also a growing public health emergency.
Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Albert Mavhunga, toured the site yesterday, accompanied by officials from the Bulawayo City Council (BCC), the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), and the Bulawayo Provincial Civil Protection Unit. His visit followed mounting complaints from nearby residents, particularly in Cowdray Park, who have been affected by the toxic smoke.
EMA provincial manager, Sithembisiwe Ndlovu, was forthright in her assessment, attributing the frequent fires to poor landfill operations.
“From our inspections and observations, it is the poor management of the landfill that is causing these fires. We have noted that the required standards are not being met, which is why some of the fires are occurring,” she said.
Ndlovu explained that the fires were releasing hazardous emissions, including carbon monoxide, into the atmosphere, posing serious risks to both human health and the environment.
“In terms of the emissions from the landfill, we have realised that when these fires occur, our air is being polluted. Hazardous emissions are being released due to the variety of materials dumped at the site.
“We have also observed that hazardous substances are being deposited at the landfill. When fires break out, these substances emit carbon monoxide, which is harmful to both our health and the environment. This is why residents are complaining — they are breathing in this polluted air,” she said.
She also noted that the smoke contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, making the landfill fires a contributor to climate change.
Deputy Minister Mavhunga expressed the Government’s deep concern over the recurring fires and their health implications for nearby communities.
“The recurring fires at the Richmond landfill have escalated into a public health crisis, an environmental hazard, and a stark reminder of the pressing need for sustainable waste management solutions in our urban centres.
“After reviewing the situation and the aftermath of the fire at Richmond landfill, it is clear that the resulting smoke has impacted the health and well-being of residents in nearby suburbs such as Cowdray Park,” he said.
He noted that residents in areas like Cowdray Park have reported respiratory problems, while the constant pollution has disrupted daily life. He said this should serve as a wake-up call for all urban councils, stressing the urgent need for sustainable, modern waste management systems.
Mavhunga also announced that all 92 local authorities across the country will now be held accountable to a new set of Minimum Service Delivery Standards. These will be launched by President Mnangagwa next week at the Councillors’ Indaba in Bulawayo.
“We now have a certain expectation when it comes to service delivery in all the 92 local authorities. There are eight service delivery items we assess: water supply, sanitation management, solid waste management, roads, drainage, public lighting, corporate governance, environmental stewardship, and beautification. When we talk about solid waste management, we now have a minimum expectation for all local authorities,” he said.
BCC’s cleansing superintendent, Nkanyiso Ndlovu, acknowledged that the landfill site is operating without essential machinery. He said that for any site to function as a proper landfill, it must carry out daily waste confinement, compaction, and coverage.
“At a minimum, this requires a bulldozer, a landfill compactor, and a front-end loader — all of which we currently lack. Our landfill plant is down, and we are also seeing a growing population of illegal settlers,” said Ndlovu.
He said that the council had deployed one functional dozer and four tipper trucks in an attempt to contain the latest fire, which they hope to extinguish completely by Friday at 6PM.
Ndlovu also identified scavengers salvaging scrap metal as the likely culprits behind the fire outbreaks.
“The illegal activities at the site, especially by metal waste pickers, are a serious problem. We’re also dealing with a ballooning population of illegal settlers around the landfill,” he said.
