illegal waste dumping: A big threat to environment

 Zvishavane residents are facing an environmental health crisis as illegal waste dumping continues in certain areas such as Novelvale, and Maglas raising concerns of a potential cholera outbreak.

 The dumping of waste ranging from household garbage to industrial pollutants, has become a habit of people particularly in Novelvale and Maglas, whereby illegal dumpsites can result in having an ugly landscape, contaminating soil and water sources that are crucial for people’s survival. The accumulation of untreated waste provides an open check for diseases such as cholera.

 According to Tendai Hove (27) who is a resident in Novelvale, “people in novelvale are highly involved in illegal waste dumping because the city council of Zvishavane refused to take responsibility of collecting waste in novelvale”. One of their reasons was that novelvale is owned and control by Shabanie mine and they must hand their grievances to Shabanie mine not the city council, he said. 

He further said, “we approached Shabanie mine offices several times on this issue but they keep on making fake promises that they will address the situation”. Cholera, a highly infectious waterborne disease, spreads rapidly in environments tainted with human waste, leading to severe dehydration and potentially fatal consequences if left untreated.

 Shamiso Nyabando (33), a nurse at Zvishavane hospital, voiced grave concerns over the situation of waste dumping. The rampant illegal waste dumping in Zvishavane presents an imminent threat to public health. With also the township of Maglas with the highest number of open defecate also poses a threat of triggering a cholera outbreak, she said. 

 Chipo Chigora, a mother of two, lamented, “We fear for the safety of our families whereas, illegal dumpsites are becoming unbearable, and we worry about the health implications, especially for our children”. Cholera cases are increasing day by day whereby this can cause fear to our families. 

 Efforts to combat the crisis have been hindered by limited resources and insufficient enforcement of existing waste management regulations. Local authorities acknowledge the challenges but stress the need for collective action to address the root causes of the problem.

 Mr. Tawanda Gumbo, the town’s environmental officer, urged community members to play an active role in waste management efforts, emphasizing the importance of proper waste disposal practices. “We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to this pressing issue. It requires a concerted effort from both authorities and residents to mitigate the risks and safeguard public health,” he said. 

In response to the environmental threat, local officials have pledged to intensify surveillance and enforcement measures to crack down on illegal waste dumping activities.

 Residents in Zvishavane are pleading for assistance to keep our beautiful environment clean through certain measures such as burning the waste, collection of waste and so many. The collective commitment of stakeholders, offers a glimmer of hope in the fight to protect the well-being of Zvishavane’s residents.



Click below to watch..

https://youtu.be/2r2ofLFkIlQ?si=aExhKjdJUBVnUEVN


https://youtu.be/qrypPBUyZ_Q?si=VqJq05JToubfhOfq


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