Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has commissioned and handed over 20 refuse compactors to the newly established Local Authorities Technical Support Unit (LATSU) under the National Disaster Management Centre, as part of a national effort to improve solid waste management in local authority areas.
Officiating at the ceremony in Harare, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the equipment formed part of a larger consignment of 85 refuse collection vehicles, including tipper trucks, procured following approval by President Mnangagwa earlier this year.
“Today we witness the commissioning of 20 refuse compactors out of a total of 85 refuse collection equipment,” he said.
“This initiative was approved by His Excellency, the President, to address solid waste management challenges in our local authorities.”
Minister Garwe said the intervention followed a waste crisis that saw Harare Metropolitan Province being declared a State of Disaster, prompting Government-led clean-up operations under Operation Chenesa Harare.
While those efforts yielded positive results, Minister Garwe said that waste management remained a challenge across many councils due to lack of equipment and personnel.
“Most local authorities have dismally failed to provide refuse removal services due to incapacitation,” he said.
“Given this deplorable state, Government made a conscious decision to procure refuse collection equipment to be deployed on a needs basis, with nominal fees charged to ensure sustainability.”
He praised the National Clean-Up Campaign, launched by President Mnangagwa in 2018, for fostering a culture of cleanliness and environmental awareness.
Minister Garwe also said that the public-private partnership with Geo Pomona (Pvt) Ltd in Harare is expected to convert waste to energy at a new facility.
LATSU, chaired by the Department of Public Works, will manage and maintain the new fleet, identify priority areas, deploy equipment, and recover costs.
The Minister urged local authorities, especially in Greater Harare and border towns such as Beitbridge and Plumtree to submit requests for assistance.
“It is high time we improve service delivery for the betterment of our communities,” Minister Garwe said.
“This new equipment will improve door-to-door collection, clear illegal dumps, and restore cleanliness in our cities and towns.”
The minister urged councils to grade roads ahead of the rainy season to ensure accessibility “leaving no one and no place behind.”
Online Reporter