THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has been cleared by the Procurement Authority of Zimbabwe (Praz) to hire eight refuse removal trucks at a cost of US$400 per day at a time when its fleet is severely affected by breakdowns.
Bulawayo has been grappling with a waste collection crisis, with indications that as of October 2025, the city had an average of only four refuse compactors operational per day against a requirement of 35.
In a report to council, Bulawayo town clerk Christopher Dube said the refuse collection fleet had been severely compromised by persistent mechanical failure.
“During the month of October 2025, an average of only four refuse compactors were operational per day against an estimated requirement of 35 compactors needed to effectively service the entire city and restore the city to its status of being a clean city,” Dube said.
“The hiring of additional refuse compactors will, therefore, have a significant positive impact on the city’s waste management operations.
“It will enhance the efficiency and reliability of refuse collection across all residential, industrial and commercial areas, reducing the backlog of uncollected waste and eliminating unsightly piles.”
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The report also stated that the additional vehicles will enable the department to extend services to newly-developed suburbs such as Willsgrove.
Council noted that overall, the strengthened fleet will improve environmental sanitation, reduce the risk of vector-borne diseases, safeguard public health and restore Bulawayo’s image as a clean and well-managed city.
“Council, having been cleared by Praz, is in the process of hiring eight refuse removal trucks at a rate of US$400 per day from the Local Government and Public Works ministry. This rate excludes vehicle running costs and fuel,” the report read.
“On analysis of this offer from MLG & PW [Ministry of Local Government and Public Works], the rate per tonne will be US$20 before running costs which will include fuel, insurance, maintenance and labour.
“Factoring in these other costs will result in a rate around US$43 per tonne which is way below the prevailing market rates averaging US$65 per tonne.”
Bulawayo is facing a serious challenge in waste collection with some suburbs at some point forced to return the waste they will have prepared for collection by council trucks to their homes.