adminTanaka Mahanya and Jethro Murahwi
HARARE City Council says the three-week “Operation Chenesa Harare” campaign launched on Tuesday will complement Government efforts to improve waste management.
Harare has turned into an eyesore, with trash piling up in most parts of the city, following the virtual collapse of council’s service delivery system.
Council said “Operation Chenesa Harare” recognises residents as active role players in cleaning their communities while earning some income.
The programme will be run by each council district officers in liaison with community leaders.
Each district would be allocated US$1 000 per week for the programme.
Recyclers will separate waste at source, bringing sanity to Market Square, Copacabana, Harare Central Charge Office and Simon Muzenda Street terminus.
Harare Mayor, Jacob Mafume, said conventional waste management systems have been criticised for their ‘‘one size fits all approach’’.
This was because each suburb has unique waste management needs.
“Participation of residents will include removal and transportation of solid waste from dumps in the communities to disposal sites and drain clearance and transportation of the waste.
“Thus, the programme gives people control over their environment to participate, maintain and improve its aesthetic value.
“The role of local communities is to practice sanitary behaviour achieved by keeping households and surroundings clean and storing waste in a designated bin or container,” he said.
He said there would be strict enforcement of anti-litter bylaws by the municipal police, and shops would be fined for not having the requisite number of bins.
He admitted that Council had abdicated its role of providing adequate service in the Central Business District, industrial and residential areas.
“This is as a result of the City’s service fleet being overstretched.
“The low frequency of waste collection, particularly in high density areas, has prompted widespread illegal open dumping at open spaces, public drains, streams and along roads, as well as open waste burning.
“The reasons for such poor waste management performance in the City were due to rapid population growth, rural-urban migration in search of better living conditions and urbanisation,” he said.
He said there were also plans to rebrand the municipal police to the Metropolitan Tourism Police.
He said they would be discussing with the Chamber Secretary how to rebrand Council police within the confines of the law.
He said the rebranded municipal police will enforce anti-litter laws and restore order and discipline, particularly in the CBD.
“We understand that when we take drastic measures, people will complain, but we can no longer continue allowing people to roast maize cobs in the CBD, throw litter everywhere and throw litter from moving vehicles.
“We shall capacitate them to restore order day and night.
“Harare is the gateway to Zimbabwe and it’s unpleasant for visitors to be welcomed by heaps of rubbish when they pass through the city.”
Online Reporter