Mzuzu City Council needs K200m for waste disposal

Mzuzu City Council is racing against time to raise K200 million by December this year to buy waste management equipment, including a refuse collection truck.

Through the Waste Management Infrastructure Fundrasing campaign launched in April this year, the council has so far raised about K40 million.

Speaking in Mzuzu on Sunday when Bishop Silent Mtambo of Evangelistic Assemblies of God Mission in Malawi donated K500 000 towards the cause, Katawa Ward councillor Monica Simwaka, who represented the council, said they are struggling to raise the money.

During the service, church members also contributed K138 470.

Said Simwaka: “We are very grateful for this gesture from Bishop Mtambo and the Church. But as we speak, not many people are coming forward to support us and we appeal for more support.

“Our target is K200 million, but we have K40 million only which is not even enough to buy one vehicle.”

Mzuzu City Council spokesperson McDonald Gondwe said hiring a refuse collection truck costs the council K350 000 per day.

He said: “The council has one truck which is grounded for four months now. In short, we do not have a refuse collecting vehicle.

“Usually, we hire a vehicle at K80 000 per day and refill it with fuel worth K80 000. If we hire a tipper, we pay K350 000 per day, which is not sustainable.”

Meanwhile, Mzuzu City residents and vendors have expressed concern over poor sanitation in markets amid rising cholera cases.

In an interview on Monday, a vendor who owns a restaurant in the city, Alhammed Raja, said poor sanitation will escalate the spread of the outbreak.

Mzuzu Central Market chairperson Gerald Maulana claimed the  council last collected garbage five months ago.

As of Monday, Mzimba North had registered 200 cholera cases and one death.