EMA CHARGES CITY OF HARARE
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has served the City of Harare with an Environment Protection Order over the non-collection of refuse in Mbare.
The city fathers were given until February 12 2021 to remove garbage and failure to meet deadline a docket will be opened with the police.
EMA Environmental Education and Publicity Officer for Harare Province Batsirai Sibanda said:
“We have taken advantage of the Covid-19 lockdown to assess the current environmental situation in the capital city of Harare and we observed that Mbare is dotted with illegal dumps.
“In this regard, on February 2, we served City of Harare with the Order.
“The Order on illegal dumps is due to non-refuse collection in Mbare in areas that include Mbare Musika Terminus exit, Farmer’s Market, Matererini Flats transfer point, Mutare Rank, Remembrance House transfer point and at Corner Chigwida Street and Ardbernie Street.”
She added: “The Agency ordered that on or before February 12, City of Harare should have cleared all the waste from the above-mentioned points and to ensure that any other illegal dumps in Mbare are cleared.
“The Agency encourages all local authorities to prioritise waste management issues and to adopt an integrated solid waste management plan, which promotes a circular economy,” added Sibanda.
From mid-January the Agency has provided City of Harare with a tractor to collect spoils of waste from storm drain clearing.
“As you are well aware that we are in the middle of the rain season and the CBD has a tendency to flood due to excessive rains and blocked storm drains.
“That is why we saw it fit to assist with a tractor to remove the waste spoils.”