Gweru City Council Introduces US$30 Spot Fine To Combat Public Littering

The Gweru City Council has introduced a US$30 spot fine for public littering in a bid to restore urban cleanliness.

The local authority is calling for collective responsibility from residents, businesses, and visitors to improve waste management standards across the city.

Gweru Mayor, Councillor Martin Chivhoko, said that the proliferation of illegal dumpsites has created hazardous breeding grounds for rats and mosquitoes, which pose a disease risk to the community.

“When plastic bags choke our drains, and illegal dumpsites become breeding grounds for rats and mosquitoes, we are not just dealing with an eyesore, we are exposing ourselves to diseases such as cholera, typhoid, dysentery and malaria,” he said.

“We have declared a war on litterbugs to curb environmental pollution, with a focus on prosecuting individuals and companies that dump waste at illegal sites.”

Town Clerk Livingstone Churu said the council is improving its waste management capabilities by expanding its existing refuse fleet.

“To this end, the council will be adding six refuse compactors, 20 skip bins and two tractor-drawn skip trailers to its fleet as we are declaring war on litter bugs and littering,” he said.

Gweru’s Director of Health Services, Sam Sekenhamo, expressed confidence that the newly introduced US$30 penalty will discourage residents from indiscriminate littering.

However, the Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) has called for a reciprocal commitment from the municipality.

GRRA Executive Director Cornelius Selipiwe argued that for the fines to be fair, the local authority must ensure consistent and timely refuse collection.

He argued that regular service delivery is essential to ensure residents are not driven to illegal dumping out of necessity.

While calling for better service delivery, Selipiwe also challenged citizens to take personal pride in their surroundings.

More: Chronicle