adminBlessings Chidakwa Mashonaland West Bureau
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has criticised urban and rural councils that do not have land on which to dispose waste, especially in the current environment, where there is a threat from water-borne diseases such as cholera.
EMA provincial education and publicity officer Mr Munyaradzi Nhariswa said in a recent statement that only two local authorities in Mashonaland West province — Kadoma and Norton — had landfills.
“The absence of landfills is an issue in most towns and rural service centres,” he said. “Most urban local authorities, namely Karoi Town Council, Municipality of Chinhoyi, Municipality of Chegutu and rural district councils are still making use of the old dump system.”
Mr Nhariswa said most councils were still relying on the traditional waste disposal system such as open dumping and burning of solid waste, which posed health hazards. “The traditional system usually results in haphazard dumping of waste involving mixing industrial, domestic and acidic waste,” he said. “This can lead to dump fires like the Pomana fire which affected some parts of Harare.
“There is also the issue of underground water contamination as a result of the absence of leachate control mechanisms, open fires which can lead to respiratory-related ailments.” Mr Nhariswa said haphazard dumping of waste reduced aesthetics of the landscape as dumpsites were usually filthy.
“Mounds of flies can be a danger to close community, harbours pathogens and promotes the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and malaria,” he said.
Online Reporter