adminRufaro Chasinda in Rusape
RUSAPE Town Council in conjunction with the Environmental Management Agency on Wednesday swooped on illegal brick moulders, resulting in about 42 000 bricks being destroyed.
The move, which affected 15 brick moulders, was aimed at addressing environmental degradation affecting the town as well as protecting Rusape Dam from siltation. In an interview, Rusape Town Council secretary, Mr Joshua Maligwa, said the programme was in line with their Local Environmental Action Plan, which is a statutory requirement submitted to EMA on how to deal with matters concerning the environment. The action plan is submitted on a quarterly basis.
“It concerns what the local authority is doing in terms of environmental issues and as Rusape Town Council we planted gum trees last year surrounding Rusape Dam to mitigate against siltation. Our efforts are being hampered by these illegal brick moulders,” said Mr Maligwa.
In an interview with one of the brick moulders whose 27 000 bricks were destroyed and spoke on condition of anonymity, he said: “I paid someone $200 to operate in this area, but I have lost everything. We were duped by some people who promised to use their political muscles to protect us.”
Mr Maligwa said from brick moulders, they would be moving to illegal tuck-shops which are now mushrooming in the town.
Online Reporter