Mutare residents up in arms over dumpsite
SYDNEY SAIZE IN MUTARE
Residents in Mutare are up in arms with the city council over the dumpsite they claim to be the ‘smelliest’ on the outskirts of the city.
They said the council promised to close it but failed to do so.
“After the residential stands were parcelled out about five years ago the council advised us the dumpsite that is in the vicinity would be completely shut, but surprisingly it is still up and running. It is now a health hazard to be living within a few meters from a busy and only dumpsite for the city of over 400 000 residents,’’ Thomas Ngorima, a representative of Greenside Extension residents told Business Times.
He added: “What boggles the mind is why they lied to us and went on to sell the stands and failed to keep their word. This is exposing us to the diseases consistent with unhygienic standards of living.”
Another Mutare resident Tsungisai Murepa said: “A lot of scrap and dumped plastic bottles among other rubbish is accumulating at a very fast pace that it is attracting rodents such as rats and these end up into our homes and properties.”
Murepa said the council should ensure the rubbish pit is closed for good to make sure they are safe from the rodents, flies and fast gathering rubbish by scrap material collectors.
Mutare mayor Blessing Tandi said the dumpsite is set to be moved elsewhere far from the residential area. “We are yet to identify an area where we can move the dumpsite. The challenge is the city is growing fast and each time we come up with a proposed area, we realise it is within the city’s environs and need to set it aside and identify another area,” Tandi said.
“We promise again to out esteemed residents and ratepayers that their concerns are going to be addressed in the shortest period to avoid a health time bomb in our city.”
The city had in past identified Fernhill area near Fern Valley, along Masvingo road as a proposed area for the dumping zone, but it later turned out the area had been set aside for the construction of a diamond cutting centre and an upmarket residential suburb as well as the Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences.
