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The Herald, 17 October, 1980
LITTERBUGS in Salisbury may be liable to fines ranging from $1 to $1 000 under a by-law passed by the city council at its monthly meeting last night.
A minor infringement of the new anti-litter law in the council area can lead to a spot fine of between $1 and $10, or, if the litterbug cannot afford to pay, he may opt to clean an area larger than the one in which he committed the offence.
Industrial concerns disposing of toxic effluence or soiling the environment in the council area can be fined up to $1 000. The anti-litter law will come into effect within the next two weeks.
The anti-litter laws have equal force in Highlands as in local government areas such as Dzivaresekwa.
Litter is defined as any substance “which is unwholesome, offensive or untidy”, including cigarette packets, garden waste, dead animals, bricks and ash.
Areas in which litter must not be dropped are places “controlled by the council to which the public has access”. These include bridges, sidewalks, car parks, gardens, roads and service lanes.
The council threw out a clause providing for employers to be prosecuted if their workers were caught breaking the anti-litter law.
Councillor S. Evans told the meeting the major offenders in Salisbury were illicit vegetable hawkers.
“If these people can go about their business without being prosecuted, how can we prosecute anyone else for dropping litter?” he asked.
Councillor Tony Gara suggested that before the new by-laws came into effect there should be a major publicity campaign so that nobody would be convicted of committing offences in ignorance.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
- The Harare City Council, in collaboration with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), has implemented a series of measures to address littering within the city. The treatment of litterbugs is primarily punitive, focusing on fines and enforcement actions aimed at deterring littering behaviours among residents and businesses.
- Individuals caught littering face fines that start at a minimum of US$30 for dumping waste at undesignated points. This penalty can escalate depending on the severity of the offense and the specific circumstances surrounding it. For businesses operating in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD), fines can reach up to US$500 if they fail to provide adequate litter bins on their premises.
- Since the initiation of anti-litter monitoring efforts, EMA has reported that 364 individuals have been arrested for littering offenses. These arrests are part of a broader campaign to enforce cleanliness in public spaces and discourage illegal dumping practices.
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