Brunette Tshuma
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, recently called on women leaders to take active roles in the newly launched Zero Waste Movement.
She emphasized the importance of women’s leadership in this initiative, stating,
“The zero waste movement encourages women leaders to take the lead while men support them, as we empower women in waste management.”
This initiative was officially launched on October 5th at the Bulawayo City Hall, with the goal of restoring the city’s clean status by “minimising waste generation and maximising resource efficiency.”
The movement operates under the theme, “The Globe is our home, together zero waste is possible.”
Among the various sources of waste generation in Bulawayo, household waste is a significant contributor, accounting for approximately 26.4% of the city’s total waste. A council representative noted,
“Currently, waste is being collected weekly in all residential areas; we make sure to collect on the day we promised the residents.”
Despite the implementation of a door-to-door waste collection system aimed at reducing household waste, its effectiveness has been questioned. A resident from Pumula expressed frustration during a council meeting, saying, “I can’t pay for waste collection by people who pass by at 4 am before the rising of the sun.”
This sentiment has been echoed by residents from various suburbs who struggle to meet the council’s collection schedule.
In addition to timing issues, the once-per-week collection strategy has forced residents who miss the collection time to dispose of their waste independently. Consequently, piles of waste left by community truckers are often found in designated areas, and when the next collection occurs, the waste is frequently scattered by animals.
“In the CBD, we have enhanced collection through the engagement of community truckers,” stated the council representative.
However, residents continue to observe similar issues in the Central Business District, where piles of waste remain uncollected, particularly in residential areas.
The alleyways in the CBD are not exempt from this problem, as many shops use these spaces as makeshift refuse bins. A council representative remarked, “With such an efficient refuse collection system in residential areas, there really is no reason one should dump waste in an open space or street corners.”
The ongoing conditions in both the CBD and suburban areas raise questions about the efficiency of the refuse collection system implemented by the council.
Is Zero Waste truly achievable in Bulawayo?
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