Health hazard looms at Chisipite Shopping Centre

Peter Tanyanyiwa Suburban Reporter

Chisipite Shopping Centre in Harare is facing a growing health hazard due to the accumulation of garbage and the influx of vendors in search of customers.

Residents of the suburb are worried that if the situation is not rectified any time soon, the problem might keep escalating.

The shopping centre, once a bustling hub for retail and leisure activities, is now grappling with a significant increase in the number of vendors, many of whom travel from as far as Mabvuku and Domboshava to sell their goods.

The surge in vendor numbers and activity has led to a proliferation of litter, as the existing infrastructure lacks adequate waste disposal facilities to accommodate the growing numbers of informal traders.

Lack of proper waste management has resulted in the creation of a large dumping area near where food vendors operate from, attracting a swarm of flies and posing a serious health risk for both vendors and shoppers.

Residents have repeatedly appealed to the City of Harare to intervene and provide appropriate selling points for the vendors, and urged concerned authorities to decongest the shopping centre to mitigate the health hazards posed by the uncollected garbage.

“The situation at Chisipite Shopping Centre is deeply concerning. The influx of vendors and the mounting garbage have turned this once vibrant place into a ticking health time bomb. Urgent action is needed to address this before it becomes a full-blown crisis,” said a resident.

The City of Harare recently acknowledged the challenges faced by the shopping centre, citing the dual issues of increasing vendor presence and inadequate waste management infrastructure as the primary contributors to the escalating problem.

The city authorities expressed concern over the indiscriminate dumping of litter by both vendors and residents, highlighting the need for proactive measures to curb this and ensure a cleaner and safer environment for all.

The situation at Chisipite Shopping Centre exhibits the pressing need for coordinated efforts between local authorities, complex owners, businesses renting shops at the complex, residents, and vendors to address the burgeoning health crisis.