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Innocent Ruwende Harare Bureau
THE Government has commissioned PCF Waste Management Company to undertake refuse collection in partnership with all local authorities countrywide under the Public Private Sector Partnership.

PCF Waste Management, which is working with Environmental Management Authority (EMA), will complement the country’s local authorities in creating an effective solid waste management system as well as creating thousands of jobs.

Although the value of the deal could not be disclosed yesterday, insiders say hundreds of millions were being poured into the operations to commence soon.

Waste containers, skip bins, compactor trucks, rubbish bags and skip trucks worth millions of dollars have already been acquired.

The move comes at a time when citizens are exposed to gastro — intestinal diseases as the local authorities are incapacitated to deal with environmental hazards resulting in the outbreak of diseases such as typhoid, cholera and diarrhoea, which have been perennial in major towns and cities.

EMA spokesperson Mr Steady Kangata confirmed their partnership with PCF saying the authority welcomed the participation of stakeholders in waste management.

“We have had meetings with them. They want to be involved in waste recycling. As EMA, we value stakeholder participation in managing the environment. Their idea is welcome,” he said.

PCF chief executive officer Mr Ven Muchina said the environmental company was setting up an effective solid waste management strategy, amid revelations that the current councils were struggling to manage the waste largely because of inadequate and malfunctioning plant and equipment as well as inefficient refuse collection practices. “PCF is coming in to complement the efforts of local authorities with an excellent approach to deal with solid waste management issue and refuse collection,” said Mr Muchina.

“Through working with EMA, awareness would be raised on proper environmental practices in all the centres nationwide.”

The partnership, which has since received green-light from Government, will see PCF coming in with a long-term sustainable technical support to deal with environmental issues in the country.

Mr Muchina said this would be done through provision of plant and equipment as well as the refuse collectors.

Waste Management has emerged as one of the greatest challenges being faced by local authorities.

The volume of generated waste continues to increase at a faster rate than the ability of the local authorities to improve on the financial and technical resources needed to fight this growth.

The current authorities are struggling to manage the waste largely because of inadequate and malfunctioning plant and equipment as well as inefficient refuse collection practices.

Mr Muchina added that the development would also create thousands of jobs. “PCF Waste Management is not just a refuse collection company but is designed to create employment for local residents,’ said Mr Muchina.

“The project will create positions such as street marshals, inspectors and refuse handlers in every town.”

The local authorities especially Harare City Council are overwhelmed by waste during the rainy season and heaps of garbage in street corners and densely populated areas such as Mbare leave the lives of city residents in danger.