Speaking during the second post-cabinet press briefing today, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Jenfan Muswere highlighted that cabinet had considered and adopted measures to address the solid waste management across the country following failure by Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led councils to manage and collect waste disposal.
“Cabinet approved the following measures to curb the unsustainable accumulation of the waste; that a Statutory Instrument (SI) will be promulgated to make the National Clean Up Programme compulsory for Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Local Authorities, the business sector, vendors, retailers and manufacturers, that Local Authorities should localize the SI by promulgation of the relevant by-laws, that funds collected by Local Authorities from residents for waste management will be ring-fenced in-order to ensure that the Authorities do not divert the funds to other uses, with EMA supervising the usage of the funds,” said the Minister.
Minister Muswere articulated that deterrent fines for public littering will be introduced and enforced, and repeat offenders charged with no option of a fine but given mandatory community service. He indicated that public transport vehicles that dump waste along roads shall be fined up to level eight with the responsible transport operator or owner also being liable.
The Minister further stated that all political parties should be compelled to mobilize their constituents to remove their campaign materials from the environment and ensure that it is properly disposed of with the assistance of local authorities.
Meanwhile, the Minister illustrated that massive awareness and education programmes shall be undertaken, starting with a re-launch of the National Clean-Up Programme in order to embed a mindset against littering and general disorder.
The deplorable state of uncleanliness across the country, particularly in urban areas is due to CCC-led local authorities` ineptitude and negligence in collecting and managing solid waste disposal. On its part, central Government has made interventions to address the situation, including introducing the National Clean Up Campaign in 2018 and through the declaration of a State of Disaster in Harare Metropolitan Province in 2023. An Emergency Solid Waste Management Programme is currently being implemented under the State of Disaster declaration.
