malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
STIFFER punishment should be enforced against local authorities and residents that continue littering and derailing efforts being made towards enhancing waste management in the country, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe has said.
Speaking yesterday at the launch of the Operation Chenesa programme for Chitungwiza at the Chigovanyika Business Centre in St Mary’s, Minister Garwe said incarceration should be recommended for culprits.
“We have realised that words are not enough and our calls are not being taken heed of. We are now required to put measures to say whoever would be seen littering should be severely punished.
“If it means incarceration, then let it be. Littering is sinning against God,” he said.
The minister urged Chitungwiza residents to take proactive action to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment in the sprawling town and not wait for Government interventions alone.
“We launched Chenesa Harare as a province and some three weeks ago, we launched Chenesa Harare 2. Today, we are now in Chitungwiza to launch Chenesa Chitungwiza. We want to encourage Chitungwiza residents not to wait for Government to come and launch such programmes.
“Residents here should work together with the Chitungwiza Municipality and see to it that you take garbage where it is supposed to be. We have noted that the Chitungwiza council has compactors bought by Government last year.
“What has been causing the piling of garbage? That garbage has not been collected for a long time, forcing people to dump waste everywhere,” he said.
Minister Garwe said they have noticed progress since Operation Chenesa Harare was launched, although more needs to be done.
“What is lagging is awareness for the residents to know that waste also causes some of the diseases we are experiencing in communities, like cholera and other waterborne diseases.
“We had a cholera outbreak that affected many parts of the country and it was because of uncollected waste.
“Like what the President has said, nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, nyika inocheneswa nevene vayo (a country is built and cleaned by its people) and residents of Chitungwiza must lead while others follow,” he said.
Operation Chenesa Harare was launched in November last year as part of the Government’s response to unsustainable waste management in local authorities.
Online Reporter