Yeukai Munetsi
Residents of Bikita Ward 12 covering areas of Mukari, Mugadza and Chitiga under Headman Mpakwa and Chief Mukanganwi have criticized Bikita Rural District Council over a dumpsite which they feel is improperly sited.
The dumpsite lies on grazing land close to a community borehole, and along Chiseva River whose waters flow to Bvumvwi which in turn feeds into Mungezi River.
Previously, the Bikita DRC dumpsite was in Bandura Village next to Pambudzi Lodge along Marozva River in Ward 23 but was moved to the current site as the local authorities repurposed the lands for residential stands.
The illegally-created dumpsite is poorly-managed, and is a ready-made source of pollution.
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Masvingo Provincial Spokesperson and Environmental Education and Publicity Officer Munyaradzi Mutisi said the dumpsite was illegal, and Bikita DRC had been taken to court over the issue.
“The Bikita RDC dumpsite currently operates illegally as it does not meet the requirements of Section 22 of SI 6 of 2007 which requires all solid waste sites to be lined. The Agency has since issued the local authority with several fines in a bid to push the local authority to comply with the provisions of SI6 OF 2007 and to restrain the local authority from further polluting the environment.
“The Agency took the local authority to court citing the former CEO, who is now deceased and the case was closed based on that technicality. In November last year, the Agency reopened another docket and the local authority is yet to appear before the courts anytime soon,” said Mutisi.
He was referring to former Bikita RDC CEO Peter Chibhi who committed suicide in March 2024 by drinking poison as he faced serious allegations of corruption.
Bikita Residents and Ratepayers Association (BIRRA) coordinator Bright Maduyu said the dumpsite had wrought serious consequences on the environment.
“The waste contains harmful substances that, as they decompose, produce organic liquid effluent called leachate which sips into the underground water source. You find livestock chewing on waste containing dangerous waste including glass, plastic and metal,” said Maduyu.
Kombere Mungati of Mungati Village criticized council for creating the dumpsite without consulting surrounding communities.
“Being close to a borehole and two rivers, the dumpsite affects not only Ward 12 residents but communities that rely on Bvumvwi and Mungezi rivers,” said Mungati.
Bikita RDC Chairperson Thomas Mataga said the local authority was planning to find a more suitable place to dump garbage.
“With all these complaints by residents, we are planning to relocate the dumpsite. We will soon convene a stakeholders and management meeting to map the way forward with clear timelines,” said Mataga.
