adminTanaka Mahanya
ENVIRONMENTAL Management Agency (EMA) has urged all local authorities to dispose of their waste at designated dumpsites.
In an interview with H-Metro, EMA Harare Metropolitan provincial manager, Robson Mavondo, said reckless waste disposal exposes people to health hazards.
“Waste management is becoming a nightmare in Harare.
“As an agency, we do not condone such reckless and irresponsible behaviour taking place in the capital, whereby people and authorities dump waste at undesignated places.
“We urge all local authorities to dump their waste at designated sites,” he said.
Mavondo said authorities, which include Harare City Council, should adopt circular waste management that encourages recycling, reusing and composting matter to reduce waste that goes to disposal sites.
“Dumping waste at undesignated sites does not only affect the environment, but mixes with water resulting in contamination of underground water,” he said.
EMA had also observed that the Harare City Council is illegally disposing of its waste in Rainham, instead of the Pomona dumpsite.
“When the rain comes, dumped waste is going to mix with water resulting in contamination of underground water.
“Currently, there is mismanagement of waste and burning is occurring every day in the area.
“No one is controlling the scavengers in the area, thus exposing them to health hazards,” he said.
This behaviour by the City of Harare has prompted EMA to serve it with a prohibition order to immediately stop dumping waste at undesignated sites.
“A ticket was also issued to the City of Harare for illegally dumping waste in Zvimba,” he said.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter