Mzuzu City Council grapples with waste collection
Mzuzu City Council (MCC) has not been able to collect refuse in most parts of the city for days following the seizure of their waste collection vehicles.
High Court of Malawi sherrifs pounced on MCC waste collection vehicles last Friday.
Waste has since piled up in public places and markets thereby posing a threat to residents.
In an interview yesterday, MCC spokesperson MacDonald Gondwe said the council has borrowed a vehicle from M’mbelwa District Council to manage the situation.
He said: “We have been using this vehicle from Friday last week following the development,” said Gondwe, who asked for more time to gather details on why their vehicles were seized.
An official at the council said they stand to lose out on revenue collection as vendors have began boycotting paying market fees.
He said traders find no reason to pay the fees when the council is failing to collect refuse and provide good services.
He said: “Traders selling their merchandise at Area 1B market in Luwinga have boycotted paying their taxes to the council because their market does not have basic amenities, including an operational toilet and water. The market has over 2 000 traders.”
In an interview on Wednesday, Area 1B chairperson Kenneth Sirindu said traders have been operating without water and toilets for almost two years now.
