Staff Reporter

Harare residents are complaining over the ever-increasing amounts of waste, including hazardous materials piling in many parts of Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) and surrounding areas, a development which poses risk to public health and the environment.

Uncollected garbage has become an eyesore especially in areas like Market Square and Rezende bus termini where vendors also operate from, selling their food stuff.

High density areas are also badly hit as illegal dumping sites continue to mushroom.

“Uncollected refuse in the CBD has always been a challenge. We have been complaining about this for many years and it seems the MDC-Alliance led Harare City Council has totally failed to address the issue. Some parts of the roads especially in residential areas have turned into illegal dumping sites.

“This culture by the HCC of not collecting refuse is exposing lives of the people to diseases related to unclean environment,” said Mr Cainos Maradze, a vendor at Market Square.

Our right to clean environment continues to be violated and we call upon the authorities to immediately come up with mechanisms to clear all the garbage and illegal dumpsites,” he added.

Corruption and misappropriation of funds have crippled the local authority and that is the major reason why residents have been demanding a commission to run the affairs of the once sunshine city.

Uncollected garbage in the residential areas threatens to contaminate water sources especially boreholes that are supposed to provide clean and safe water to residents.

The opposition led HCC has also failed to rehabilitate roads, burst water and sewer pipes and street lights among other basic service delivery which rate payers expect to get from them.