Suburban
THE City of Harare’s refuse collection blitz is not helping as Ward 7 residents say the waste collectors are leaving rubbish uncollected at most houses in Avondale.
Suburban Reporter
As a result of going for periods as long as five weeks, a month or more without refuse collection residents end up dumping the garbage in open spaces while some resort to burning the waste.
Rubbish dumped on these open spaces has been growing on a daily basis as the City of Harare continues to fail terribly to provide services to ratepayers.
Garbage has been piling on the footpath which leads from Kerry Road, on the boundary between Avondale West and Strathaven, between two new housing developments, and behind the new housing developments.
Despite numerous reports to City of Harare officials by Ward 7 residents on the need to collect refuse, the municipality has not been responsive.
“I have reported this on the Ward 7 Development Committee group chat, but there was no meaningful response. The dump is growing daily. Perhaps inevitably, because refuse collection is now so unreliable and inadequate,” said Mr John Vekris, a resident of Ward 7.
Mr Vekris said there is now some more rubbish dumped closer to the road while there also some pockets of rubbish on the side of the footpath.
“I’m sure this is but one example of what is happening all across the capital, because of the unmanageable situation we find ourselves in, in Harare. I am not imagining that we are a special case,” he said.
Residents have been persistently reporting their dilemma to Mrs Trish Mukudu who is in charge of refuse collection in Ward 7 to no avail.
“I hope Trish your team will pass along Lomagundi Road between King George and West (Road) to collect bins near TelOne bus stop, Avondale. Up to now our refuse has not been collected. Is there any hope of this being done any time this week? I thought the blitz was for Monday and now this is Wednesday. Please give us an update Trish. This is so frustrating,” said another resident Caroline Tagwireyi in two messages to Mrs Mukudu on July 19 and 21.
No response was forthcoming from the responsible official.
On August 16 Tagwireyi also wrote to Mrs Mukudu: “Trish, can you kindly let us know when to expect refuse collection along Lomagundi Road near TelOne Bus stop, Avondale. Our refuse is piling up and you can’t take it outside if you are not sure the collection will be done. We would welcome a response to the above Trish.”
Again nor response came from Mrs Mukudu and by August 30 residents were still stuck with their uncollected garbage.
“I truly hope we will have the truck collecting waste along Lomagundi Road. It’s more than three weeks now and most of the neighbours are no longer taking their waste out for collection. I’m sure they have resorted to alternative means,” wrote Tagwireyi on the residents’ chat group where the City of Harare officials are also present but do not respond.
Last Friday, the refuse was still to be collected as Tagwireyi wrote: “Five weeks now without refuse collection and HCC expects us to pay our bills. Lomagundi Road near TelOne bus stop, Avondale.”
Another resident Jean Carol also recently expressed her frustration with the lack of refuse collection by the municipality.
“I’m so frustrated with lack of refuse collection by council along Lomagundi Road. Right now we have one of the HCC employees who picks up litter along Lomagundi burns the trash to try and reduce the quantities. Unfortunately, the refuse is mixed so the organic material does not burn especially near the TelOne bus stop. The other problem is that the small bin which was put close to the bus stop at TelOne, instead of helping out has actually become a problem. This is because people now just come to dump their uncollected waste which also includes baby diapers which when the HCC guys tries burning the stuff it is not burnt. Also, it seems the little bin is not constructed in a user friendly way for collection by the municipality. All in all, the waste management is really terrible. When you enquire from the responsible person for the Ward, you don’t get a response. It’s so draining especially when you are paying your bills,” she said.
By Wednesday this week, the residents were still to have their garbage collected.
“For how long do we have to wait for our refuse to be collected by the city? It’s now over three weeks without refuse collection in Kay Gardens in Kensington. Our collection day is Tuesday. But this is now only history,” said Madenyika Magwenjere.
Added JP “Stompie” Fourie: “… and when they do come it’s on the wrong day and unannounced. Complete waste of diesel and manpower as they whiz past homes. Can they not see there is no garbage outside homes?”
