Chronicle Editor
Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
BULAWAYO, once renowned as one of the cleanest cities in the region, has been grappling with a growing litter problem in recent years.
In an effort to curb this alarming issue, the city will today launch the much-needed Spring-Cleaning campaign, scheduled to take place up to 7 October. The Spring Cleaning is on its second year running and last year, during its inaugural phase, 43 waste hotspots were identified in the city’s Central Business District (CBD).
Last year the CBD-focused spring-cleaning exercise was meant to get rid of piling garbage in the city’s sanitary lanes. The 5th Avenue vegetable market, from Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street up to Robert Mugabe Way was also a bone of contention during the exercise as it was identified as one of the red zones.
At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the local authority introduced a raft of measures aimed at curbing the spread of the pandemic, these also notably included the order to shut down the open-air market along 5th Avenue. The local authority even ordered that the road be opened to the motoring public.
However, three years on, the 5th Avenue market continues to be a bone of contention as it remains one of the notable waste hot spots. The road remains chaotic, with push carts and vendors displaying wares on the streets while others form long queues to buy vegetables from the fresh produce shops. This year the cleaning exercise will be a citywide affair spreading even into the city’s suburbs.
“BCC will be running the spring-cleaning campaign, a programme to rid our CBD and suburbs of accumulated waste from Sunday 1 October to Saturday 7 October. We are inviting stakeholders who can partner the city by selecting an area that they can clear of waste during this campaign or providing front-end loader and or trucks for clearing waste during this campaign,” reads a notice from the local authority.
On Thursday, the city’s mayor, Councillor David Coltart met with business stakeholders to deliberate on how the local authority could liaise with them for a comprehensive clean-up campaign.
“The aim is to also put forward the ideas that the city has and also get your input so that we can craft policies which enjoy a broad consensus,” reads part of letter by Clr Coltart to the business community.
As the city embarks on this essential exercise it is important to explore measures that can be put in place to address the litter problem, and reflect on the journey the city has taken from its cleaner past to the state it currently finds itself in.
The litter epidemic and its impact
Litter has become an increasingly visible problem in Bulawayo, not only in the CBD but also in the suburbs.
The accumulation of litter not only tarnishes the city’s once-impeccable reputation but also poses significant health, environmental, and economic consequences. Litter promotes the breeding of disease-carrying pests, pollutes water sources, and adversely affects tourism and investment potential. In an interview with our sister publication, the local authority’s spokesperson, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu noted that there was an increase of rodents in the city due to poor waste disposal by residents. She warned residents that rodents may pose serious health risks.
“There are a number of causes for the increase, notably these could be availability of food due to indiscriminate disposal of food scraps. Availability of junk which provides breeding places for the rodents. It should also be noted that rats are prolific breeders and their gestation period is very short so if they get a conducive place to breed, their numbers will increase exponentially within a short period of time. The most important thing is to ensure that residents keep their premises clean and waste is properly disposed of. Where a rodent infestation is already manifesting, there are rodenticides sold at approved dealers and these can be used with caution,” she said.
Bulawayo Provincial Medical Director Dr Maphios Siamuchembu said rodents can cause a number of diseases although they have not been common in Zimbabwe.
“Rats can transmit diseases such as salmonella, hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choreomeningitis and tularemia. I however have no experience diagnosing or treating any of these diseases. I do not think they are common in our country. Perhaps we even have limited capacity to diagnose them. So, as far as I am concerned, it is more an issue of controlling rats for their damage to property and nuisance effects than for diseases,” he said.
Other diseases that can be caused by improper management of waste, include cholera and typhoid.
The journey from cleanliness to current state
Bulawayo’s decline from being one of the cleanest cities in the region to its current state has been influenced by various factors. Rapid population growth, inadequate waste management infrastructure, insufficient public awareness, and a lack of enforcement mechanisms are some key contributors.
The local authority has previously noted that the city is in a precarious position as, with a population of more than 700 000, and newer suburbs such as Cowdray Park, Emganwini, Pumula South and Mahatshula, among others, the environment section has only 170 employees, which was hindering its efforts to effectively collect litter in the CBD.
The situation is set to be compounded further when areas that are part of Umguza Rural District Council such as Emthunzini, Mbundane, Hopeville and Lovendale, are incorporated into the city. Additionally, in the CBD, there has been an increase in activities. Premises that previously housed one business are now subdivided into a number of lettable units and this has seen a corresponding increase in waste generation.
The CBD was not an area where vending was not pronounced but now its entirety is littered with vendors
However, recognising the need for change and embarking on the spring-cleaning campaign indicates a commitment to reverse this trend and restore the city’s cleanliness. In April the local authority endorsed an anti-littering policy, which saw a strict enforcement of anti-littering by laws among other interventions.
The policy came at a time the local authority had been struggling to contain litter in the CBD. In coming up with the policy, the local authority noted that a clean city is an embodiment of good management, it attracts investors, promotes ecotourism, and enables an aura of public safety.
“Immediate action has to be taken to restore the city to its former glory as everyone has a nostalgia for the yester clean city. It is indeed easy to talk of a clean city that we had back then however, it is more important now to interrogate the past to establish the then enablers for a clean city so as to fully understand the causes of rampant littering.
“Until the early 1990s, Bulawayo was regarded as the cleanest city in the region. The city was characterised by litter-free streets, few illegal dumping spots and people who prided themselves in a clean city. At present, littering and dumping of refuse continue unabated in almost all areas of the city. The need to have a clean city can never be over-emphasised,” reads a report on the policy.
The spring-cleaning campaign
The spring-cleaning campaign is a timely effort by the city authorities to tackle the litter problem head-on.
By dedicating a concentrated period of time to cleaning up the CBD and suburbs, Bulawayo hopes to restore its reputation as a clean and attractive city for both residents and visitors. The campaign will involve coordinated efforts from local authorities, community organizations, and citizens, united in their commitment to creating a healthier and cleaner environment.
Bulawayo United Residents’ Association (Bura) chairperson, Mr Winos Dube said the only way to address the litter problem in the city was having the local authority set their priorities. He noted dump sites had been allowed to go for a long period unresolved for a number of years and were now coming back to haunt the local authority.
“The accumulation of these dumps that we are discussing today has been taking place for several years, right before our very eyes. It is evident that the local authority was aware of this issue, but due to a lack of prioritisation, the situation has deteriorated to its current state.
“As residents, we anticipate innovative solutions from our local leaders to address this filth, rather than just acknowledging the challenges. To be candid, the City of Bulawayo is currently experiencing its most challenging period, with a rapid deterioration of conditions,” said Mr Dube.
He called on the local authority to also relook at the issue of sanitary lanes, saying they should impose a law where they are locked always to prevent people and businesses dumping litter.
“However, as residents the onus is also on us, we should not always look at the local authority for solutions. The onus is also on us to take ownership of this crisis and ensure that we do not contribute to the growing litter in the city. We have to adopt a culture change and ensure that we just do not throw away litter, if we see someone doing that let us politely reprimand them,” said Mr Dube.
Interventions for future consideration
Beyond the focused campaign, Bulawayo needs to implement sustainable measures to prevent littering in the long term. Launching educational campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of proper waste disposal and the detrimental effects of littering is crucial. This includes targeting schools, community groups, and even businesses to promote responsible waste management practices.
Involving communities through clean-up initiatives, volunteer programs, and community-led projects fosters a sense of ownership and pride. Encouraging citizens to take an active role in keeping their neighbourhoods clean and organised can lead to sustainable change.
Also, there is need for investing in infrastructure such as waste bins, including separate receptacles for recycling, which will help encourage proper waste disposal. Regular collection and efficient waste management systems are essential for maintaining a litter-free city.
As part of intervention measures spelled out in the litter policy derived by the local authority, they aimed at increasing the number of refuse compactors, replace the ageing supervisory vehicles fleet to improve supervision of refuse collection, street sweeping, and monitoring of illegal dumping hotspots, increase staffing levels, intensify waste education and stakeholder engagement, improve enforcement and increase the number of litter bins.
“Previously, the section had 68 refuse vehicles. Among those vehicles, was a fleet dedicated to the removal of street sweepings in the city. Presently, there are only 26 (17 refuse compactors but three compactors have been recommended for disposal, eight supervisory vehicles but most are frequently breaking down as they are more than 20 years old and one three-tonner) refuse vehicles and no fleet dedicated to the removal of sweepings in the Central Business District.
“Due to a scarcity of resources, there are 382 bins in the Central Business District instead of the ideal 600 bins. The cleansing workshop has the technical capacity to make the bins in-house however, a shortage of inputs is hampering their efforts,” reads the policy.
Enforcing such existing littering regulations and imposing fines or penalties for offenders will act as a deterrent and create a culture of responsibility. This requires collaboration among law enforcement agencies, local authorities, and citizens.
Final word
Bulawayo’s spring-cleaning campaign embodies the collective effort to address the growing litter problem, maintain public health, protect the environment, and elevate the city’s aesthetic appeal.
Beyond this campaign, it is crucial for the city to implement sustainable measures such as public education, improved waste management infrastructure, regulations, and community engagement to achieve a lasting transformation.
With a unified commitment from citizens, local authorities, and other stakeholders, Bulawayo can reclaim its title as a clean, vibrant, and environmentally conscious city for generations to come.
Online Reporter