Beitbridge Municipality Seeks Partnership To Construct A Modern Landfill

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

Beitbridge Municipality is considering engaging a private-public partnership to construct a modern landfill to improve the management of the environment and solid waste projects.

An official said this is being done in line with the town’s transformation into a medium city.

The local authority’s Environmental Health Officer, Mr Pio Muchena told stakeholders during a recent 2022 budget consultation meeting that solid waste management has become a perennial headache for the council.

He said the current landfill is not up to standard as it was put up over two decades ago and is failing to cope with the town’s accelerated growth.

Mr Muchena said the municipality is concerned about the high level of littering around the town and its environs.

“We have since identified a new site on the west of our town where we need to put up a standard engineered landfill,” he said.

“Although some funds were set aside for the same projects in the 2021 budget, they are not enough.

“So far, an environmental impact assessment has been done at the new site”.

He said they have started engaging the contractor (Raubex) who is carrying out modernization works at the Beitbridge border post to assist them to set up the landfill.

Mr Muchena said stakeholders in the town are producing over 700 tonnes of solid waste monthly and 20 tonnes daily.

He said although they have been on top of the situation in terms of waste collection from residential areas, businesses, and industry, they are faced with an acute shortage of equipment including refuse collection trucks.

Mr Muchena added that they are looking at procuring more waste collection equipment to improve their presence on the ground.