Chiwenga belts local authorities for service delivery failure

By William Milasi

Acting President Constantino Chiwenga has said poor waste management in local authorities is caused by local authorities’ failure to execute their duties in timeously collecting waste.

Urban councils are controlled by the opposition and the governing Zanu-PF party has been accusing opposition for running down councils.

In a speech read on his behalf by Environment Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu during a recently held national clean-up campaign in Redcliff, Chiwenga said if local authorities were diligent in the discharge of their duties illegal dumping will be a thing of the past.

 “Local authorities should firmly execute their duties to collecting waste regularly as per schedule. If waste is collected per schedule illegal dumping will be a thing of the past. Local authorities also have to enforce by-laws and bring those who flout environmental regulations to book. More so, grassroots structures need to be capacitated on sustainable environmental management,” he said.

He said littering has reached concerning levels.

“Level of littering and illegal dumping in some of our residential and business centres is a cause for concern. Street corners and open spaces in residential areas have been turned into dumping sites. Some of the sanitary lanes in urban centres are now heavily littered. Dumping waste in undesignated areas is against national agenda and needs to be stopped forthwith,” he said.

The Acting President said local authorities must have serious environmental plans.

“In addition, local authorities should have local environmental plans that they have to adhere to religiously. I would like to encourage our local authorities to ensure they have active natural resources committees,” he said.

Chiwenga who also doubles as a health Minister explained that there is need for government to tap into the country’s, recycling industry as it has remained undeveloped.

“The recycling industry has not been fully developed which discourages some of the community based organisations who have to transport waste to as far as Harare and South Africa for sale,” he said.

Going forward government is planning to tap into the sector’s potential.

“This means we have to invest more in recycling value chain to make it more attractive to community members especially women and youths. Moreso, we need to invest in value addition, so that our people gain more returns from waste recycling as a government that believes in inclusivity we are committed to leave no-one and no place behind when it comes to supporting waste recycling,” he said.