Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
GWERU City Council has introduced a US$30 spot fine for public littering as the local authority intensifies efforts to restore cleanliness and improve public health across the city.
The measure follows a waste management sensitisation meeting that brought together stakeholders from local Government, environmental agencies, law enforcement and civic society to address growing waste disposal challenges in the city.
Gweru mayor Councillor Martin Chivhoko said waste management requires collective responsibility from residents, businesses and visitors.
“When plastic bags choke our drains and illegal dumpsites become breeding grounds for rats and mosquitoes, we are not just dealing with an eyesore, we are exposing ourselves to diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and malaria,” he said.
“We have declared a war on litterbugs to curb environmental pollution, with a focus on prosecuting individuals and companies that dump waste at illegal sites.”
Town clerk, Mr Livingstone Churu, said the council is strengthening its waste collection capacity by expanding its refuse fleet.
“To this end, the council will be adding six refuse compactors, 20 skip bins and two tractor-drawn skip trailers to its fleet as we are declaring war on litter bugs and littering,” he said.
Mr Churu said the initiative also supports national environmental sustainability goals by encouraging responsible waste disposal, reducing pollution and protecting the urban ecosystem.
Director of health services, Mr Sam Sekenhamo, said the city is implementing an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan (2026–2030), designed to shift Gweru from a traditional collect-and-dispose model towards a circular economy.
The strategy aims to reduce waste sent to dumpsites from nearly 100 percent to 40 percent by promoting recycling, reuse and waste prevention.
“With the US$30 fine now active, our message is clear: keep Gweru clean, or pay the price,” said Mr Sekenhamo.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association executive director, Mr Cornelius Selipiwe, said both council and residents must play their part.
“The local authority needs to be collecting refuse regularly so that residents are not forced to dump it anywhere as they please. On the other hand, residents need to ensure that their environment is always clean and avoid dumping litter in places such as storm drains,” he said.
Environmental regulators and law enforcement agencies have pledged support for the campaign.
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Gweru district environment officer, Mr Timothy Nyoka, said enforcement would now be strengthened.
“As EMA, we will be coming out in full force as we enforce the penalty. Anyone caught littering will be fined,” he said.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson, Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko, said police are prepared to intervene in cases where environmental regulations are being flouted.
