Condemned Dumpsite Threatens Residents’ Health Amid Cholera Outbreak

Municipality of Gwanda has failed to cease dumping waste in the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle area amidst of local residents.

Whilst the country is fighting against high cases of Cholera, Gwanda’s dumpsite sits to be an allure of the health bomb. Despite the Environmental Management Agency (EMA)'s old order, the Municipality of Gwanda (MOG) never ceased dumping refuse in the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle site that sits amongst residents, posing a Cholera threat.

BY LYNNIA NGWENYA | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | JUN 14, 2023

GWANDA (The Citizen Bulletin) — Silethokuhle Moyo, a resident of Hlalani Kuhle’s Ward 8 in Gwanda, is worried about the health threat posed by the presence of a dumpsite in their area.

“We are concerned that we might fall sick with Cholera,” she says.

Diarrhoea is endemic in the area.

“But we are now scared that we might be affected by cholera as the dump site poses a serious health threat. Children play around the area; picking papers, old clothes and bottle lids…”
Silethokuhle Moyo, Ward 8 resident

Moyo is not the only concerned resident.

Elias Sibanda blames the Gwanda municipality for not taking serious measures to ensure the health safety of the locals.

“The Council is less worried about us, because if it wasn't, they would have relocated the dump site a long time ago,” says Sibanda.

Solid waste management has been a public health concern for the past decade.

According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), waste can be washed away into water bodies causing health threats.

“Waste harbors pathogens and promotes the spread of diseases such as cholera, and dysentery.”

“Blockage of water and sewer drains by litter and non-biodegradable material leads to the spread of waterborne diseases such as typhoid,” EMA reports.

The Municipality was ordered to cease dumping waste at Hlalani Kuhle by EMA over a decade ago.

EMA Matabeleland South Provincial Manager, Decent Ndlovu, says they have had many fruitless engagements with the Municipality over the relocation of the dumpsite.

“EMA has and is still condemning the Municipality, but in each case they have excuses. That dumpsite is a hazard, to make matters worse the Council doesn't stop issuing stands on the very same place.”
Decent Ndlovu, EMA Matabeleland South Provincial Manager

“Our next move is to engage them to fence the site around and also pour soil on the waste; it will not end the problem, but will at least mitigate the health threat.”

Council once claimed bankruptcy to relocate the landfill.

Ndlovu however says that is not an excuse.

“They should engage relevant offices and stakeholders to mobilize funds for the completion of the landfill,” Ndlovu advised the municipality.

Ward 8 has the second largest population in the town, with a population of 4178, according to Zimstats 2022 statistics.

A student at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic, Ruth Ncube says they are exposed to smoke coming out of the dumpsite.

“Now we no longer know if our respiratory systems function well,” Ncube says.

Residents say that dirt lures big green flies which then poses another health risk as these flies come into their homes. Image by Unsplash 

“We are forced to consume all the food we would have cooked, because if you leave some behind for later, big green flies will fill the house like there is a dead cow.”

Ward 8 Councilor, Ntuthuko Ndebele acknowledges the danger in which residents are living in.

He says the council is taking corrective measures for the safety of residents.

“In another instance, weeks ago residents from Hlalani Kuhle called that the smoke had excessively filled their houses, the Council had to send fire alert vehicles to cease the fire at the dumpsite, the situation was dire indeed,” Ndebele explains.

“The Council is working hard to get sponsors for the completion of the Landfill located along the Makwe road.”

As indications show that the council is failing to make necessary interventions, EMA and a local community group, Vukuzenzele are working on best waste management practices.

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“We conduct door-to-door awareness campaigns on waste management and anti-littering,” says Alice Masawi, Vukuzenzele club chairperson.

“We collect plastic bottles and other recyclable materials, which we then store in the recycling storage place in Phakama, awaiting buyers,” says Masawi.

The area councilor also called on residents to be responsible to protect the environment.

“People should learn not to throw decomposing waste in bins, but rather dig it in pits, which can then be used as manure,” Ndlovu adds.

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