Harare launches district level waste management in...

Harare launches district level waste management initiative

Bridget Mabanda

The Harare City Council has launched a district level waste management initiative, which is meant to clear illegal dumpsites.

Titled “Chenesa Harare”, the initiative shall be managed at the district offices with resources availed to make sure the programme is a success.

Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, said the programme will be done simultaneously across the city.

“The operation shall be based at district offices and funds will be allocated to the designated areas. The first stage of this operation is to clear the number of dump sites … in Harare,” said Mafume.

He said that there are over 600 illegal dump sites that have accumulated waste in the suburbs of Harare.

Meanwhile, Harare City Council health officials are on high alert after two confirmed cholera cases which were recently reported in Chegutu.

City Epidemiologist Dr Michael Vere said there is need to prepare for a potential cholera outbreak.

“As Harare, we need to be very alert and ready to manage cholera cases. As the Health Department, we have pre-positioned cholera kits in all our clinics,” said Dr Vere.

The kits contain medicines and sanitary equipment to manage the cholera cases.

Council is also engaging communities in order to raise awareness on cholera and typhoid.

Dr Vere urged residents to attend the nearest clinics so that the disease can be detected as quickly as possible and action is taken.