Disquiet over Masvingo dumpsite
SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO.
Residents and civic groups are pushing the Masvingo City Council to urgently move the city’s dumpsite from Victoria Ranch to a 10-hectare landfill acquired in 2019 at Cambria Farm, Business Times can report.
Godfrey Mutimba, the spokesman for the Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (MURRA), said the council’s decision not to move the dumpsite was putting residents in danger, especially as the community is being affected more and more by smoke from the open-air dumpsite.
“We urge the council to act in the best interest of the people, who are suffering due to prolonged exposure to toxic waste. It’s time for the city leadership to be honest and prioritize the welfare of the people,” Mutimba said.
Recently, the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) petitioned the city council over the dumpsite.
Masvingo Mayor, Aleck Tabe, has assured residents that the old dumpsite will be decommissioned soon.
“We are working toward a resolution and will put measures in place to prevent illegal waste-dumping activities,” he added.
In September 2024, a report from the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) found that Masvingo City Council’s actions were in violation of environmental human rights and administrative justice.
The commission urged the council to protect residents from hazardous waste exposure and fulfill its obligations under national and international standards.
