Zim GBC News | Health and Environment
BULAWAYO – Residents of Cowdray Park are facing a severe health crisis as thick, toxic smoke from recurring fires at the city’s main Richmond landfill continues to blanket the area, with the Bulawayo City Council deadlocked on finding a lasting solution.
The situation has escalated to the point where councillors are warning that the city’s inaction could invite the central government to impose a private waste management model, similar to the controversial Pomona project in Harare.
Ward 28 Councillor Nthandoyenkosi Ndlovu told a full council meeting that the landfill has become “a source of serious suffering” for residents.
“Council has failed to adjudicate tenders advertised in 2024. If no action is taken, central government could impose a model similar to Pomona in Harare,” Clr. Ndlovu warned.
The concerns were unanimously echoed across the council chamber. Ward 6 Councillor Nkosilathi Mpofu demanded the smoke crisis be treated “as an emergency,” while Ward 7’s Thandiwe Moyo criticised the “very slow implementation” of proposed waste management projects.
The fires, reportedly often started by waste pickers, create plumes of smoke that carry hazardous materials, with environmental experts linking such landfill emissions to soil and water contamination far beyond World Health Organisation standards.
Mayor David Coltart acknowledged the severity of the landfill’s impact and revealed that the city is in talks with a Canadian organisation interested in landfill management.
However, he admitted that a permanent solution, like relocating the dumpsite at an estimated cost of US$2 million, is beyond the council’s current financial resources.
“The issue has been discussed for a long time without lasting solutions,” Mayor Coltart said.
“Proper procedures will be followed in seeking partnerships, and any contracts must be in the best interest of residents.”
While the council pins its hopes on long-term plans to upgrade Richmond into a modern facility and explore waste-to-energy projects, residents of Cowdray Park remain sceptical, forced to endure the choking reality of the crisis daily.
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