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Locadia Mavhudzi Midlands Correspondents
Gweru City Council has embarked on clean-up exercise of undesignated dumpsites in high density areas to improve hygiene as the typhoid outbreak continues to wreak havoc in the city.

Gweru City Council public relations officer Mr Manford Gambiza said the clearing of undesignated dumpsites in Mkoba and Senga was meant to improve waste management in the progressive city.

“We are in a situation where many people have suffered from diarrhoreal diseases and we are currently running tests for typhoid,” he said. “It is important that we keep the environment clean.

“However, it is not just the prerogative of the city council. Residents should play their part by improving their waste management by separating waste.

“Our trucks have been clearing waste in various undesignated dumpsites mainly in Mkoba and they have working over the heroes’ holidays.”

The city council, which has been struggling to collect household waste, has resorted to hiring private trucks to do the job, a scenario that was largely condemned by the residents.

Mr Gambiza said their fleet of refuse compactors is old and prone to breakdown hence their failure to collect waste on weekly basis.

“We do not have enough efficient refuse trucks,” he said. “We have prioritised this programme due to the typhoid outbreak.”  Mr Gambiza said council is currently owed $58 million by residents and they are currently channeling most finances towards purchasing water purification chemicals. “Water treatment and purification requires 30 tonnes of chlorine and 2 tonnes of sulphur on a monthly basis,” he said. “Clean water provision has always been a priority for us.”

Meanwhile, a typhoid response team comprising council, Ministry of Health and Child Care, nongovernmental organisations and volunteers have embarked on typhoid awareness campaign in Mkoba.

The team is currently educating communities on water safety, hand washing, disease prevention and they are also distributing household essentials such as soap, Jerry cans, aqua tablets and buckets in the worst affected areas.