THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) on Wednesday unveiled a raft of measures aimed at addressing operational challenges at the Richmond Landfill Site and curbing illegal vending in the city during a meeting with Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Judith Ncube and members of the Joint Operations Command.
A council delegation led by deputy mayor Edwin Ndlovu and town clerk Christopher Dube briefed the minister and security officials on plans to improve waste management through a partnership with the private sector.
Speaking during the engagement, Dube said the proposed partnership was in line with government policy.
“Partnering with the private sector in the management of the Richmond Landfill Site is in line with policy directions from the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works,” Dube said.
He said the city was seeking sustainable, long-term solutions to the operational challenges affecting the landfill site.
The delegation also toured several illegal vending hotspots and inspected proposed relocation sites identified by the local authority for informal traders operating unlawfully within the city.
Dube said the proposed relocation exercise followed extensive research conducted by the council.
“We have carried out research to establish the number of informal traders operating illegally and identified designated areas where they can conduct their business in an orderly manner,” he said.
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Ncube expressed concern over the growing levels of illegal vending, saying the situation required urgent intervention from all stakeholders.
“The prevailing situation cannot be allowed to continue,” she said.
“There is need for co-ordinated action to restore order while ensuring that vendors operate from designated places.”
Following the discussions, stakeholders resolved that the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, the City of Bulawayo and other relevant stakeholders would convene an emergency planning meeting to develop modalities for relocating informal traders.
Authorities said the planned relocation is intended to improve sanitation, reduce congestion and restore order in Bulawayo’s central business district while creating a more organised trading environment for informal vendors.
