COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF

GENERAL WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN

ZIMBABWE :A CASE STUDY OF CHIREDZI
SURBARB

BY

Daphyne Mugabe

Parallel

R162046F

0774441472
BACKGROUND

Hippo Valley Estates is an operation under the auspices of Tongaat Hulett, it emerged in 1956

as a citrus plantation in a valley on the banks of Runde River that was used as a source of

irrigation water for citrus plants. The river was full of hippopotamus hence the estate was

named Hippo Valley. The first 280 acres of sugar cane were planted in 1960 as a waste crop

until the citrus could be harvested. The year 1975 saw the waste in the citrus market and the

phasing out of citrus plantation on the estate. Hippo Valley Estates is currently one of the two

major producers of sugar in Zimbabwe. Of the 54 000 hectares that comprises the estate, 12

338 hectares is currently under sugar cane farming whereby the harvested sugar cane is sent

to the sugar processing mill which is presently capable of producing about 300 000 tons of

raw and refined sugar per year. The balance of the land is largely unsuitable for cane farming

and has been put to cattle ranching and safari operations. Business activities associated with

sugar cane farming and processing of sugar are land preparation, irrigation, cane farming,

cane haulage, milling, process and packaging.

Hippo Valley Estate has a total population of 21564 which is almost static owing to the

continuous engagement and retirement of staff in accordance with employment policy of the

estate. The population also fluctuates seasonally as some employees prefer to plant their field

in the rain season and work at the estate in the off season period. This variation also has an

effect on the general waste generation sequence since the waste generation is related to the

housed and employed population. This level of employment also affects the spending pattern

which resultantly affects the general waste generation potential.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Population increase in chiredzi has largely resulted from the increase of rural- to-urban

migration. Increased population is positively correlated with increased generation of different

types of wastes. Furthermore, a large proportion of solid wastes generated in most urban areas of

originate from agricultural products. Solid waste management in zimbabwe is largely carried out

by municipal authorities. This is the mandatory activity which is provided under the Local

Government Act,

However, municipal authorities have very low capacity in solid waste management. It is

estimated that most municipal authorities can collect and dispose off 20 – 30% of the generated

solid waste (Chinamo, 2003). As it is the case in most municipalities and cities in Zimbabwe, in

chiredzi town the cost of managing solid wastes is quite high and significant proportion of the

generated waste is left unattended. There is, therefore, a need to involve communities in solid

waste management. In any case, large proportion of solid waste is generated by communities. If

well organised and planned, communities can effectively and profitably manage solid waste. The

most profitable and sustainable way is composting which can be used for urban agriculture and

source of income. Previous studies demonstrated that about 70 - 80 % of the generated urban

waste produced in developing countries is of agricultural origin which is biodegradable

(Akinmoladun and Adejumo, 2011). This biodegradable waste can be turned into compost

manure for Urban and peri-urban agriculture. This sector is rapidly expanding in Zimbabwe

mainly due to increasing demand for food as well as the means of income supplementation and

employment especially for women and youth (Mlozi, 1995). Composting as a biological
approach will not only result in the restoration of essential soil nutrients but will also help in

solving environmental, sanitary and soil conservation problems associated with waste

mismanagement. Composting also could minimize the need for costly waste disposal methods

such as land filling and incineration.

Objectives of the Study

General objective

To assess the extent of community participation in solid waste management.

Specific objectives

Specific objectives were to:

(i) Identify the major sources of solid waste.

(ii) Examine the current solid waste management practices and their limitations.

(iii) Evaluate the level of awareness and attitude towards community participation in

solid waste management.

Research Questions

1. What are the sources, amounts and types of solid wastes generated?

2. What are the current solid waste management practices and their limitations?

3. What is the level of awareness and attitude towards community participation in

solid waste management?

Justification

The output of this study will provide useful recommendations to stakeholders to improve the

coherence between the perception of community participation and the actual implementation of

development activities including SOLD WASTE MANAGEMENT (SWM).

DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA

Hippo Valley is located about 5 Kilometers South of Chiredzi Town in the Masvingo Province.

Fig 1.1: Shows the location map of the project site.

Hippo Valley Estates forms part of Natural Region V of Zimbabwe which covers 26 percent of

the country`s area of 101140 km2 and this account for very low rainfall of less than 500mm

annually. Most of this rain is convectional since it comes as a result of the southern Frontier of

the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). It should be noted that the Low veld where the

project is located lies in the leeward side and receives very little rainfall. About 80% of the total

rainfall is received from November to March. Normally, there are some over-cast conditions in

winter emanating from cold and moist air blowing in at a speed of 7km/h from south-east of the

Natal Coast of South Africa. The low rainfall received in the area provide ideal for landfills

because there will be minimal leachate generation if any. If the low rainfall is juxtaposed with

the very high temperatures, a negative water balance is acquired. This scenario does not call for a

well pronounced leachate management system and geo- membranes which are expensive.

However, microbial activity may be reduced due to low moisture and in that case Hippo Valley

had to add some water to substantiate moisture to catalyse the activity of micro-organisms which

decompose waste and reduce volume and weight of waste in the land fill.

TEMPERATURE

The average temperature range temperature in the area is 22 -30oC that is 20% above 18.5oC,

which is the minimum temperature favourable for rapid stalk elongation. The temperature range

in July is 16.3oC while it shoots up to 26.3oC in January. Mean daily maximum temperature of

29.5oC is experienced in January, while July has got the lowest daily minimum temperature of

7.4oC. Sometimes frost is observed in winter. Such very high temperatures have always resulted

in humidity falling to 55.5% in September and 69.7% in February. However, this humidity is
conducive for sugarcane production in that, it discourages fungal diseases and at the same time

facilitating ripening of the cane.

High temperatures coupled with moderately humid conditions are important in catalysing waste

decomposition in the landfill. This will greatly help to reduce waste volume in the landfill with

rapidity. The temperature also creates a negative Climatic Water Balance which is essential for

leachate minimization in the landfill.

WIND

Wind is a paramount parameter that should be considered when sitting a landfill. The reason

being that of unpleasant odours and gases like methane that may be produced should not be

manoeuvred to any residential area since this gas is poisonous and can cause veldt fires and

destruction of ecological biomes and the entire biosphere. However, observations at the site

shows that the South Easterly winds which dominates the region do not affect the neighbouring

residential area Section 17. A barrier in the form of vegetation will be erected to bar wind and

ensure maximum prevention of these negative externalities.

METHODOLOGY

 BASELINE SHE SURVEY - The SHE baseline survey consisted of on-the-ground

surveys of the safety, health and environmental systems of the estates’ waste

management procedures.

 STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTATION - The objectives of the stakeholder consultation

are;

 To gather potential safety, health and environmental impacts associated with the current

general waste management practices from the stakeholders’ perspectives.

 To engage stakeholders for the effective mitigation and enhancement of the SHE impacts

arising from the waste management practices.

STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION QUESTIONNAIRE

 What Health and Environmental concerns do you have concerning the current waste
management system at Hippo Valley Estate ?

 How do you think the concerns may be mitigated ?

  What Community Health concerns do you have concerning the establishment of an
engineered general waste landfill ?

 How do you think these concerns can be addressed ?

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

 The research had two types of findings or results, one from the community health

assessments carried out onsite and the other from the stakeholders’ questionnaire

responses. The stakeholders consisted of the estate employees, local authority,

government departments and the local traditional leadership.

 The current general waste management practices evidenced that waste is only segregated

at source e.g. at the offices, workshops, canteens, estate club, clinic and schools waste

receptacles. This segregation is in the form of colour coded waste receptacles (bins) as

shown in the following exhibit.

 The general waste management issues raised in this project showed the need for Hippo

Valley to rectify its waste segregation endeavours which are quite elaborate at the source

levels but is distorted during transportation and at disposal. There is need to create a

segregated transport system to augment the already existing well structured waste

segregation system at the sourcing levels.

  All waste disposal sites or landfills have to be engineered or lined as stipulated by SI 6 of

2007, so as to protect underground water resources from leachate contamination.

However Hippo stands proudly as being amongst the first group of companies to pursue

this initiative of establishing a general waste landfill in compliance to the requirement of

the above stated act.

REFERENCES

 Environment and Natural Resources Management (Effluent and Solid Waste

Management) (Amendment) Regulations, 2011 (No.1)

 Environment Management Act (chapter 20:27), 2002 Part VII, Section 72- 96.

 Environmental Management (Hazardous Substances, Pesticides and other toxic

substances) Regulations, 2007

 Central Statistical Office, 2002 Provincial Profile Census for Masvingo.

 Langmore K (ed) 1998, Minimum Requirements for Waste Disposal By Landfill-

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Pretoria.

 National Environment Policy and Strategies June 2009, the Government of Zimbabwe

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Management.