The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
CASH-STRAPPED Chipinge Town Council has been urged to invest in solid waste management through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a way of opening more revenue streams for the council.
This was said by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts during a tour of the local authority last week.
The committee was on a mission to assess the progress made in waste management.
Chipinge Town Council is yet to establish a waste management plan.
Chairperson of the portfolio committee and Chegutu West Member of Parliament, Honourable Dexter Nduna said the committee is on a whirlwind tour of local authorities following the tabling in Parliament of the Auditor General’s report which revealed that there are no plans in place for local authorities to deal with the waste being generated in high traffic areas.
Hon Nduna urged local authorities across the country to establish solid waste management landfill plans in line with the 2018 Auditor General report’s recommendations on waste management.
He said the report also revealed that waste collection in residential and commercial areas is erratic.
“As council, you have failed to justify why by now you do not have a solid waste landfill plan. You cannot continue blaming poor revenue collection for your failure to offer services to the ratepayers.
“There is need for local authorities to work on improving solid waste management as this can be a source of extra income through recycling.
“We have visited many local authorities and we have noted that there is more work to be done to ensure that waste management is improved. Residents feel shortchanged as they are not getting value for the services paid for. There should be value addition on collected waste.
“The Joint Venture Act of 2016 supports the establishment of PPPs so that local authorities cannot continue burdening residents through reviewing of rates. They should device ways to generate extra income through partnership.
“Several local authorities are struggling with solid waste management,” said Hon Nduna.
