By Rutendo Mapfumo

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is concerned with the increasing issue of littering in Hwange, which is causing damage to the environment.

To fight off this menace, Nothani Ndlovu, the Hwange District Environmental Management Agency Officer, said they had ticketed several littering offenders in the district.

As part of their anti-litter campaign, they have issued tickets to between 30-40 shop owners in Hwange urban area who have been found guilty of littering or failing to provide waste receptacles in their shops.

The anti-littering campaign in Hwange is aligned with the goal of maintaining cleanliness in the area.
The Environmental Management Agency’s Hwange office is conducting these campaigns at growth points (developing areas) and business centres in Hwange.

“The campaign is supported by Section 83 of the legislation, which prohibits littering, where the campaign is extending to growth points and other business centres in the urban areas” he said.

Section 83 states that no person should discard, dump, or leave any litter on any land or water surface, street, road, or site, except in designated containers or places specifically provided for such purposes.

It also stipulates that owners of transport conveyances are responsible for ensuring that no litter is thrown from their vehicles. Additionally, individuals or authorities in control or responsible for maintaining any place must ensure that adequate and suitable containers or places are available for litter disposal.

Any person who contravenes the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of Section 83, unless there are specific by-laws within the jurisdiction of the local authority concerned, may be found guilty of an offense and liable to a fine.