Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa
Herald Reporter
Law enforcement agents in civilian clothes have been deployed on Harare’s streets to flush out litterbugs.
The crackdown, launched by the Environmental Management Agency on February 6, 2026 in collaboration with Geo Pomona Waste Management Pvt Ltd and the City of Harare, has already seen over 200 tickets issued in the Central Business District.
In a statement on Wednesday, EMA Harare provincial manager, Mr Leon Mutungamiri, said the littering crisis in Harare has reached an alarming level that authorities can no longer ignore.
Mr Mutungamiri said that despite waste collectors collecting refuse on time, there was still a lot of litter because people are still throwing garbage everywhere.
“The appalling situation requires citizens to take responsibility for their actions. We call on every resident, corporate, communities and business entities to embrace best practices in waste management to avoid littering and the emergence of dump sites,” he said.
In response to the crisis, Mr Mutungamiri said three major institutions joined forces and drew up a structured plan of action to restore order to the city’s waste management.
“The Environmental Management Agency, Geo Pomona Waste Management Pvt Ltd and City of Harare came up with a roadmap which started on the 6th of February 2026 to address littering and illegal dumping of waste in Harare. The operation is taking a collaborative approach with all the stakeholders involved,” he said.
He emphasised that the enforcement offensive is already producing results on the ground. He said that the undercover officers were making their presence felt across the Central Business District.
Mr Mutungamiri said Zimbabwe’s environmental laws are clear and uncompromising on the matter.
“No person shall discard, dump or leave any litter on any land or water surface, street or road except in a container provided for that purpose,” Mr Mutungamiri said, citing the Environmental Management Act Chapter 20:27, Section 83.
“Any person or authority in control of or responsible for the maintenance of any place shall at all times ensure containers for placing litter are in place.”
He said authorities have cast a wide net of accountability and warned that no individual or institution will be spared if found in violation.
“Institutions, shop owners, companies, vendors, public transporters, passengers and the general citizenry who violate the statutory requirements on waste management will be fined heavily,” he said.
“We endeavour to bring sanity within the province, no place and no one is going to be left behind.”
