adminMash West Correspondent
Kariba Municipality will soon launch an integrated solid waste management plan as part of its long-term solid waste management strategy. The municipality’s director of housing and social services, Mr Godfrey Magijani, said recently they had already ramped up solid waste management practices.
“We have already started increasing waste management practices,” he said. “We are also in the process of coming up with a proper landfill, with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) having been done so far.”
The municipality was using a dumpsite with an electric fence to ensure that wildlife did not breach it.
“We have also engaged residents about building a proper shed to control scavenging activities,” he said.
Mr Magijani said the shed would ensure that residents engaged in proper waste separation at the dumpsite for collection by community-based organisations who converted it into usable materials.
Council has also partnered with waste producers such as Delta Corporation to ensure a clean environment. Other organisations, according to Mr Magijani, adopted roads where they made sure there was scheduled refuse collection.
“The roads include Heights Road, Debbie Ottman-Heights turn-off to Windsor, J–Mann Windsor to Nyamhunga,” he said.
Mr Magijani encouraged the business community to make sure their working environment was kept clean. Environmental Management Agency Mashonaland West spokesperson Mr Munyaradzi Nhariswa commended Kariba Municipality for their waste management programmes.
“We commend the Municipality of Kariba for adopting the integrated waste management approach and urge other local authorities to take up such institutional commitment,” he said.
“This is a contemporary and systematic approach to solid waste management, which takes into account measures to reduce, reuse, recycle and manage waste to protect human health and the natural environment.”
He said Kariba’s waste management system was anchored on active and ward-based health clubs and community-based organisations.
The model helps inculcate environmental stewardship amongst residents and also reminds them of their active role in solid waste management.
Online Reporter