SOME sections of Ward 7, which had gone for at least six months without their garbage being collected, finally had their rubbish collected last week after the councillor for the area arranged three refuse trucks to service the suburbs for four days.
Diana Nherera Suburban Reporter
Ward 7 Councillor Happymore Gotora said the blitz was conducted between Thursday last week and saw garbage still being collected in the ward until Sunday this week.
“I have organised the blitz because I noticed the refuse situation is now out of hand.
“People were complaining about the situation in terms of refuse collection.
“It has gone for so many months. I think in some areas they have gone for six months without refuse collection. That is why I organised this blitz so that we can be able to clear the rubbish that has gone uncleared for quite some time,” said Cllr Gotora.
He said he wants to keep suburbs in the ward clean to prevent a health hazard.
“The health of the people is my first priority.
“Ward 7 does not have many dumpsites like other suburbs.
“Most of the rubbish is kept in durawalls so we need to clear them up so that we keep the suburbs clean,” said Cllr Gotora.
However, he said the trucks were not able to collect garbage in the entire ward.
“For now, at least we can do something than to not do anything.
“So yesterday, today and tomorrow (Saturday) we hope to cover a lot of ground in Ward 7.
“If we can cover certain areas then next time we cover other areas so that we can collect all the garbage that is around,” said Cllr Gotora.
He said he intends to make refuse collection a regular service despite the shortage of council garbage compactors in the capital city.
“As you are aware, we have a very precarious situation when it comes to the issue of refuse collection in the city as we have a shortage of compactors that is why it cannot be as regular as people expect.
“We are working as a council to try and resolve the situation once and for all.
“We are trying to see how those broken down trucks can be repaired even to source funds to purchase more compactors,” said Cllr Gotora.
He said the Ward 7 compactor is among the few working refuse trucks.
“But because of the shortage of trucks, it is no longer reserved for Ward 7 only. It is also being used in the central business district.
“The city prioritises the CBD ahead of any other place in terms of refuse collection but here and there it comes to Avondale.
“So as a council we are trying to facilitate the repair of the trucks that are down. Those that can be repaired can be repaired and those that are irreparable can be replaced by purchasing new ones.
“It is my goal that we solve the issue of refuse collection once and for all as a city and I am hopeful that it is going to be sorted out soon,” said Cllr Gotora.
Some of the areas where refuse was collected include Ascot Road in Avondale West, Kent Avenue (Avondale), Kenny Road in Kensington and Kay Gardens (Kensington). Alexandra Park and Gunhill also fall under Ward 7.
Residents of Avondale West and those from Kent Avenue in Avondale confirmed their garbage was collected but some in Kensington and Avondale said the trucks did not pass through their roads.
Cllr Gotora explained that the blitz was not meant to cover all areas in one day and he pledged to arrange for the trucks to return and collect in the areas left out during the first phase of the blitz.
Of late some residents of Ward 7 had resorted to recycling their garbage in the wake of the collapse of the City of Harare’s refuse collection service.
Mr John Vekris, a resident of Avondale West and Ward 7 Ratepayers and Residents Association vice chairperson, recently urged fellow residents to first clean the recyclable materials before taking them to the recycling centre at Blue Lagoon shopping centre in Avondale West.