Harare residents in areas serviced by council’s refuse
trucks should brace for delays in garbage collection as the local authority’s
fleet is grounded owing to diesel shortages.
While the council is struggling, The Herald understands
that Clean City, a private firm contracted to collect refuse in selected areas,
continues to offer services after it built a significant fuel supply buffer to
avoid disruptions.
Clean City collects refuse in Harare’s northern, eastern
and parts of southern suburbs including Avondale, Belvedere, Mbare, Waterfalls,
Southerton, Rugare and Eastlea.
Residents have proposed the creation of a single collection
point where they can deposit their refuse in every area as opposed to street
collection.
Harare City spokesperson Mr Michael Chideme last week said
fuel shortages have hampered refuse collection.
“We currently do not have diesel,” he said. “We have paid
our suppliers, but we have not received any deliveries. The fuel shortage has
impacted negatively on our capacity to do door-to-door garbage collection. The
service will resume once the situation improves.”
Mr Chideme said suppliers were demanding payment in US
dollars, yet they were offered services in the local currency.
Harare Residents Trust director Mr Precious Shumba proposed
that council uses its district offices as collection points.
“It would be more convenient for the council to collect the
garbage once they have secured enough diesel to undertake street collections,”
he said.
Mr Shumba urged ratepayers not to create illegal dump-sites
on street corners and in open spaces, especially at this point when the deadly
coronavirus pandemic has been confirmed in Zimbabwe.
“They have to organise themselves and place the garbage at
council offices. Where the council offices are far away, the residents have to
organise and identify central places to place their garbage such that council
vehicles will pick the garbage once they have diesel.” Herald
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