Highfields turns into an environment eyesore

A dumpsite in Highfields

By Elton Gomo

HIGHFIELDS famed for being the second oldest high density suburb in Harare is slowly losing its visually appealing aesthetics due to uncollected garbage.

Growing up in this area, it was a delight seeing Harare City garbage collectors every Wednesday collecting household garbage.

It was a fun experience chasing after the empty plastic bins. Quite fascinating is the fact that young children of creche and primary school going age still uphold this tradition.

Sadly, Highfields overall has been debased to an eyesore. Whom to blame remains a mystery but much of it goes to the City Fathers for not collecting garbage timeously.

Because refuse collection is not done timeously in this neighbourhood, residents have resorted to disposing their garbage whereever there is an open space. Close to Mhizha Primary School is one such area. A more dispiriting site is one beside the Western Satellite Clinic in New Canaan.

In the Eastern part of Highfields, just close to the swimming pool is another ugly sight which has been neglected for years.

A Highfield resident who only identified himself as Robert bemoaned the state of his neighbourhood.

“You know my brother, I was born and bred here. I even have my family here in Highfields. It is really disgusting to see rubbish sites virtually everywhere.

“This sandline between the swimming pool and Mutasa is an example of neglect as you see garbage from the Main Street end all the way to the Egypt neighbourhood. People even defecate in that sandline which is very deplorable,” says Robert.

Mai Panashe in New Canaan says they have no option but to dispose their refuse whereever they feel because of the Council’s neglect.

“We have nowhere to dispose our refuse. Council comes here once every two months. They say they have fuel challenges. So until they fix their fuel issues, we have no other option,” she said.

Meanwhile, garbage collection according to Harare is set to improve following the purchase of 10 new refuse compactors, five skip trucks and one front and a loader.

Chairperson of the Environmental Management Committee councillor Tendai Matafi in February said council has since taken delivery of four refuse compactors with the rest of equipment expected in the first quarter.

Cllr Matafi said his committee expects massive improvement especially after the introduction of three shifts a day to help in clearing garbage dumps.

“So far we have four new compactors have arrived. We are expecting the remaining six to be delivered soon. “We have introduced a three shift system on refuse collection so that we can enhance service delivery.

He said Government will soon disburse funds for road maintenance.

There are other alternatives for refuse disposal such as burning and burying it. However, the problem comes when you have diapers, and plastics and other stuffs which need collection by refuse collectors.

Bottom-line, council should up its game in collecting refuse so that the neighbourhood regains its beauty.

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