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Chinhoyi Bureau
Mhondoro residents have called on beverage manufacturers to set up collection points for waste generated by their products. Speaking on the sidelines of a clean-up campaign held at Gweshe Business Centre last week, Ward 14 Councillor Lovemore Tshuma said litter was becoming a major challenge.

“We would need beverage manufacturers to set up cages at business centres so that empty containers are disposed. Currently, there is litter everywhere because people just through away empty beer containers, especially the plastic ones,” he said. Delta Beverages has receptacles in some areas, but there is none at Gweshe business centre, resulting in empty opaque beer containers all over. The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) conducted a clean-up campaign at the centre amid calls for change of attitude in society. EMA board member Mrs Juliet Chiketa said people’s attitudes should change owing to the clean-up campaigns.

“We have gathered to emphasise and impress on good waste management habits within the people of Mhondoro-Ngezi district. Let us desist from littering and dumping of waste because it pollutes our surrounding and exposes us to disease outbreaks,” she said. Waste management, she said, was an issue at most rural service centres. Mrs Chiketa said a three-pronged approach had been adopted targeting behaviour change, availing of waste management structures and enforcement of existing laws.

“This is meant to bring about sustainability to waste management in the country,” she said. “The amount of waste residue in the environment is still a cause for concern.” Mrs Chiketa implored Mhondoro-Ngezi Rural District Council to put in place measures to curb littering at rural service centres. This, she said, could be done by designation of appropriate waste disposal facilities, appointment of waste management committees and litter monitors.