BULAWAYO councillors are concerned about the disturbingly high levels of littering in the central business district which they say is a health hazard.
The city has previously been touted as the cleanest in the country.
According to the latest council report, councillors felt there was need to devise a way of reducing the high levels of littering and illegal dumping in the city.
Ward 22 councillor Mmeli Thobeka Moyo expressed disappointment with council’s waste management system during a heated council meeting.
“The streets are dirty, particularly 5th and 6th avenues, due to lack of enforcement,” he said, according to the council minutes.
“He pointed out that council had made a resolution that mandates businesses in the city to buy bins, but nothing had been done.”
Ward 9 councillor Donaldson Mabuto raised concern about littering along 6th Avenue, stating that the issue had been politicised.
He urged council to engage political stakeholders to restore order in the city.
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“He stated that finding common ground with political players can significantly aid in maintaining cleanliness in the area,” the minutes said.
Ward 7 councillor Thandiwe Moyo expressed concern over lack of cleanliness in her ward.
“Moyo requested an increase in street sweepers, saying ward 7 had only 15 sweepers who could not cope with the workload considering that the wards had been increased,” read the minutes.
Council does not have a particular by-law on littering, but was relying on borrowed by-laws derived from the Public Health Act as well as the Environment Management Act.
Council once considered installing closed-circuit television cameras in the central business district to facilitate arrest of litterbugs.
