COUNCIL WANT LITTER BUGS PUNISHED

BULAWAYO councillors have been encouraged to record names of people who dump litter at illegal points during the night so that the offenders could be punished.
Under local by-laws, it is a punishable offence to dump litter or garbage at undesignated places.
Report by Pamela Mhlanga
Council’s Health Services director Zanele Hwalima said the city faced manpower problems in monitoring litter bugs, begging the City Fathers to help combat illegal dumping.
“Her (Hwalima) department was doing their best in conducting random checks around the city and this had yielded results,” reads part of the council latest minutes.
“She suggested that if it was possible, councillors should record names of people who dump their litter at night, so that they could be dealt with.”
This development comes amid concerns by the municipality over an increase in the number of cases of illegal dumping, particularly in the city’s sanitary lanes.
Despite the prevalence of illegal dumping, the local authority has only fined 12 entities for littering.
According to the latest council minutes, Bulawayo deputy mayor Amen Mpofu had said councillors had a role to play in communicating with residents on the problem of illegal dumping.
Ward 13 councillor Lot Siziba concurred, saying it was necessary for councillors to be vigilant, adding that he had in the past called rangers when he saw people dumping at an illegal site.
“The culprits were dealt with there and then with the assistance of the rangers,” he said.
“He reported that every morning he saw scavengers near Galen House empting refuse bins thereby causing litter and suggested such activities should be closely monitored in order to keep the city clean.”
Emganwini councillor Earnest Rafamoyo suggested that offenders be arrested by residents so that the community would take responsibility on such matters.
Town clerk Middleton Nyoni advised councillors to inform residents that once they were caught by the Environmental Management Agency disposing litter at illegal points, they would pay heavier fines of up to $5 000 and hopefully such fines would deter such illegal waste dumping.
http://www.newsday.co.zw/2013/05/10/councillors-want-litter-bugs-punished/