Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Writer
THE Hwange Local Board (HLB) has established environmental sub committees (ESCs) at ward level as part of a renewed drive to curb environmental vices and strengthen community-led environmental management across the mining town.
The initiative is aimed at promoting environmental stewardship, improving waste management practices and increasing public participation in keeping residential areas clean, safe and habitable.
HLB acting director of spatial planning and land management, Mr Themba Sibanda, said the committees would play a critical role in identifying, reporting and addressing environmental hazards at grassroots level.
“These committees will play a pivotal role in identifying and addressing environmental hazards and environmental degradation,” said Mr Sibanda.
He said in the past, Hwange had grappled with serious challenges such as clay soil poaching, which left open pits and caused significant environmental damage through uncontrolled brick moulding activities.
“Council has also been confronted with persistent illegal dumping at undesignated sites,” said Mr Sibanda.
Clay poaching, particularly in areas earmarked for residential development such as Don Bosco, has rendered some land almost unsuitable for infrastructure development in the foreseeable future, compounding the town’s housing challenges.
The establishment of ESCs aligns with the Environmental Management Agency’s (EMA) national strategy of promoting ward level environmental governance structures to enable communities to sustainably manage local natural resources and assist in enforcing environmental laws.
Environmental sub-committee member Mrs Namatayi Munjeri said there was a need for greater visibility of the committees to ensure residents fully understood their role and actively participated in curbing environmental vices.
“We need the council to make these committees more visible so that residents know who we are and what we do. Community participation is key if we are to succeed,” she said.
Another committee member, Ms Sinikiwe Vera, emphasised the need for strong institutional support from both HLB and EMA, noting that the committees would be responsible for enforcing by-laws and environmental regulations at community level.
“The primary objective of establishing these grassroots structures is to actively involve local communities in environmental stewardship. There is also a need for continuous sensitisation and awareness campaigns, especially with the growing number of roadside vendors operating within residential areas, which has contributed to increased littering,” she said.
Meanwhile, HLB has expanded its door-to-door refuse collection services to cover more households, following improvements to access road networks in previously under-served areas.
HLB corporate communications officer Mr Dumisani Nsingo said the expansion was made possible through collaboration with development partners who assisted in opening up road infrastructure.
“This year, we extended refuse collection services to Empumalanga Phase 4 Stage 2 and Dynamic Village, following the inclusion of Baobab Extension last year. Our responsibility is to ensure door-to-door refuse collection, even in settlements that are not yet fully functional,” he said.
Refuse collection remains a critical component of local authority service delivery, particularly in safeguarding public health, promoting environmental sustainability and ensuring orderly urban development. It also enables councils to comply with key statutes such as the Urban Councils Act and the Environmental Management Act.
Mr Nsingo said effective refuse collection is one of the most visible indicators of sound local governance.
“When councils provide regular waste collection, it builds public trust, encourages residents to pay rates and fees and promotes citizen co-operation in maintaining clean communities,” he said.
Mr Nsingo said the local authority had further strengthened its operational capacity with the acquisition of a new refuse compactor under a Ministry of Local Government and Public Works capacity enhancement programme.
HLB is also set to add a tractor fitted with a refuse trailer this year to service areas with difficult terrain.
“Consistent refuse collection enhances cleanliness and improves the quality of life for residents. Clean environments also make towns more attractive for investment, tourism and business development,” said Mr Nsingo.
