TATENDA CHIKARA IN MASVINGO
Residents in Masvingo have expressed disquiet over the local authority’s failure to complete development of the Cambria Farm dumpsite, Business Times can report.
The Masvingo City Council had promised to migrate to the new dumpsite by September last year which did not happen.
The Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance spokesperson, Godfrey Mutimba told Business Times that the residents were not happy with the continuous use of Runyararo West and Victoria Ranch dumpsites, which he said were putting their lives at risk.
“As residents’ organisations we are concerned that the city fathers have not lived up to their promises of using the Cambria farm dumpsite which should have started functioning last year in September. What hurts most is that the area which is still dumping waste near Runyararo West is putting residents’ lives at risk as there are mosquitoes and flies during this rainy season,” Mutimba said.
The Masvingo Residents Forum secretary Prosper Tiringindi said it was taking so long to open the new dumpsite.
“We are saddened with low progress happening at the new dumpsite as it is yet to be opened, that is the problem we are having with our city fathers,” Tiringindi said.
He urged the Masvingo city council to adopt skip bin initiative so that residents can throw litter since litter was thrown everywhere.
“In some areas litter is seen everywhere. We urge the city fathers to adopt the skip bin so that residents can throw litter such that a collection van can carry the skip bin at the designated area,” Tiringindi added.
Contacted for comment, the mayor of Masvingo, Collen Maboke, said: “We ran out of funds to complete the development of the Cambria Farm dumpsite. We are, however, awaiting allocation of devolution funds to finalise the project.”
