BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
A prominent environmentalist has raised alarm over the worsening illegal dumping of waste around Victoria Falls, which she says has become a threat to the city’s wildlife heritage.
Victoria Falls is within the Zambezi National Park, which is home to a variety of game species.
Charlene Herwatt from Greenline Africa, an environment watchdog based in the resort city, said residents were dumping all sorts of waste along main roads, trenches, parks and other undesignated areas.
“The increase in indiscriminate dumping of waste is not acceptable,” Herwatt said.
“Why pollute our Victoria Falls?
“People are dumping all sorts of waste, including diapers.
“This is illegal and people should get heavy fines for dumping.”
A tour around the city by VicFallsLive showed that the Kazungula main road, which is used mainly by tourists who enter Zimbabwe through the Kazungula border post from Botswana, was heavily polluted.
Diapers, empty cans, old clothes, and plastic papers, among other waste, were strewn on the roadside near Victoria Falls Primary School.
The pollution is worsening despite the fact the local authority regularly collects waste from residents’ doorsteps.
Herwatt expressed frustration that offenders were not being punished.
“We encourage the city council police to take action and put a stop to this,” she said.
“Plastics are eaten by wild animals, including elephants, and this can cause death.
“We cannot continue picking up after these culprits and they have to be caught and heavily fined.”
Researchers say that plastic litter is the most common killer of animals, and marine life.
Studies have also proven that if litter is not properly disposed, it can be the breeding ground for bacteria and diseases.