A shocking report by the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has revealed that the Masvingo City Council has been deceiving residents, ratepayers, and even the government about the status of the Cambria Farm landfill project.
Despite claims that the old dumpsite in Runyararo West was closed, the council continues to dump massive amounts of garbage there, posing serious health risks to the surrounding community.
The ZHRC investigation, prompted by complaints from the Masvingo Residents Ratepayers Alliance (Murra) and former Ward 3 councillor Roki Kamuzonda, found out that the council's actions violate environmental rights and the right to administrative justice.
“From this, the facts given about the complainant’s right to administrative justice were violated, because from the feedback ZHRC got from EMA, MCC was supposed to migrate from the dumping site system to the landfill system in 2012,” reads the report.
“However, there were yet to complete the construction of one about 12 years later..”
The report also indicated that the Masvingo city council violated the right to administrative justice as provided in the constitution of Zimbabwe.
“Further, ZHRC investigated whether the right to administrative justice as provided for in Section 68(1) and (2) of the constitution of Zimbabwe, read jointly with Section (3)(1) of the Administrative Justice Act (Chapter 10: 28), was violated.
“From the feedback ZHRC got from EMA, MCC was supposed to migrate from the dumping site system to the landfill system in 2012.
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“However, they were yet to complete the construction of one about 12 years later, leaving the residents on the receiving end despite the fact that administrative should be prompt,” reads the report.
In a stunning display of dishonesty, the council invited Vice President Kembo Mohadi to officially open the new landfill in June 2023, despite knowing it was not operational.
Murra director Anoziva Muguti condemned the council's conduct.
“What council did was wrong. Why would they lie to their ratepayers and even the government to the extent of inviting Vice-President Kembo Mohadi to officiate at the opening of Cambria Farm,” said Muguti.
However, Masvingo mayor Aleck Tabe attempted to justify the situation, claiming the landfill was abandoned due to waste accumulation and the need for compactors.
“We know about the issue. They need to ask us what happened and we explain. The Landfill was abandoned due to accumulation,” said Tabe.
The ZHRC report is a damning indictment of Masvingo City Council's failure to serve its residents and ratepayers.
EMA provincial manager Milton Muusha said they had been pushing Masvingo City Council to move away from the dumpsite.
“We have been telling the council to leave the Runyararo West old dumpsite to a new dumpsite,” Muusha said.
“EMA has an oversight role on whether the local authorities are in compliance with the set regulations.”
However, in the report the council is failing to relocate to Runyararo West 13.
