OVER the years local authorities have struggled to deal with waste with towns such as Chitungwiza and the capital city, Harare ,among others being brought before the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to answer charges of poor waste management practices.
Illegal dump sites have become common in residential areas as local authorities struggle to collect litter.
However, Mvurwi Town Council, according to EMA, has emerged as a good model for waste management which other councils must emulate.
With a population of over 10 thousand, the council has managed to put in place systems that have helped not only keep the council clean, but inculcate a sense of responsibility among Mvurwi residents.
A recent media tour revealed how the Mvurwi council has effectively deployed communal bins which include big steel bins and various other bins dotted around the town to cater for various waste.
With help from the business community and residents, the town is effectively managing solid waste a source of serious headache in most towns.
Chairman of the Mvurwi Town Council Vincent Murengwa said the model which has transformed the golden leaf town into a clean place has been hinged on various stakeholders prioritising environmental issues.
“Our vision as a town is to exceed everyone’s expectation in terms of service delivery and this has seen our rate payers whom we call partners prioritising environmental issues and helping us to keep the town clean,” Murengwa said.
“We have a motto that goes ‘a loose paper is a lost paper’ and so we have made sure we increase the number of bins in our town so that people do not walk for long distances carrying litter in their hands.
‘With 17 communal bins, big steel bins, small bins, medium bins and portable bins, we have taken into account the population to be serviced.”
Partners such as financial institution CBZ Holdings and Farm and City have been instrumental in keeping the town clean.
Murengwa said that the town council also got help from residents.
“We have a group we call the ‘Sweet 16s’ which comprises of 53 grannies who have helped us since 2006 to sweep the town and keep it clean,” he said.
“These ladies have been dedicated to keeping the town clean and we do not pay them as their service is voluntary.
“We, however, make sure that we provide them with some goodies at the end of the year.”
The EMA officer, Mapako Rambwai said while the Mvurwi Town Council model was not yet perfect, it was worth emulating.
“Mvurwi Town Council is thriving in its solid waste management and we urge other local authorities to devise strategies to effectively manage their waste,” said Rambwai.
One of the ‘Sweet 16s’ Anna Chitengu (64) helping to keep Mvurwi clean revealed how the group began and its wish to keep the town clean.
“When we began around 2006, we saw that our town was very dirty so we asked permission from the town council to clean the town,” she said.
“At first people rebuked us and laughed at us because they did not understand our desire for a clean town.
“However, people now understand the need and advantages of a clean town and they now complement our efforts by not littering the streets.”
Eveline Malili (62) expressed a wish to go to other towns and show them how to keep them clean.
“We are about cleaning our town,” Malili said.
“We used to force those who threw litter from buses to disembark and pick it up. “And now people have grown to understand that we have to keep our town clean. “We wish we could go to places like Bindura to teach and show them how to clean their towns.”
Mvurwi Town Council has 60 cubic meters of un-compacted waste per week and the litter is collected once a week from the households.
The council carries educational campaigns, clean-up exercises through its 23 health and hygiene focal persons.