By Mvelo Mthiyane Zondo
GWANDA – The Municipality of Gwanda has resolved to relocate its longstanding dumpsite to a new, purpose-built landfill, offering long-awaited relief to residents of Hlalani Kuhle and students at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo College who have endured hazardous fumes and foul odours for decades.
The Municipality officially announced in a public notice that the dumpsite will be moved from the residential area to a regulated landfill.
“The Municipality of Gwanda wishes to inform all residents and stakeholders that we are moving to a controlled new dumpsite on Monday, June 15, 2026,” read part of the statement.
“There shall be no further dumping of garbage at Hlalani Kuhle. Residents must use the new landfill site for all waste disposal going forward. We appreciate the community’s cooperation and patience during this transition, and encourage everyone to take note of the relocation date.”
Some weeks back, the Mayor, Alderman Thulani Moyo was quoted as saying that work had already started towards the relocation of the dumpsite.
“I have set a 30-day target to have the dumpsite moved to the new landfill site. If, as a council, we don’t take the lead on proper disposal of waste, then people will continue littering,” he said.
For decades, residents of the mining town waited anxiously for the local authority to act on the dumpsite issue, as hazardous smoke from the site encroached on their homes, putting their lives in danger.
To address the ongoing problem, the local authority, with assistance from World Vision, constructed a compliant landfill in 2015, but repeatedly failed to meet relocation deadlines.
However, use of the landfill was delayed due to a lack of essential equipment, including a compactor, bulldozer, front-end loader, excavator, weighing scale, and self-weighing compactor truck.
“As a council, we have neglected an issue that has long affected residents. The relocation has been delayed due to the absence of necessary earth-moving equipment,” he admitted.
“We have been engaging some stakeholders such as the Rural Infrastructure Development Authority, including the local MP, Fisani Moyo, to assist them in sourcing the necessary equipment,” he said.
“At the moment, the council has two refuse compactors, though one needs to be repaired, and we have been forced to use a tipper, which isn’t ideal. We will work on ensuring that the other refuse compactor is back on the road as soon as possible.”
Modern landfills are well-engineered and managed facilities for the disposal of solid waste. Landfills are located, designed, operated, and monitored to ensure compliance with regulations.
They are also designed to protect the environment from contaminants, which may be present in the waste stream. Landfills cannot be built in environmentally sensitive areas, and their placement is guided by on-site environmental monitoring systems.
Until now, Gwanda has used an illegal dumpsite located next to Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle and just a few metres from Joshua Mqabuko Polytechnic. The site has become a major attraction for baboons, who often vandalise property and sometimes stray into the college premises.
The dumpsite has also been an eyesore for travellers along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge Highway.
