MAKOKOBA has overtaken Entumbane as Bulawayo’s dirtiest suburb with alarming levels of illegal dumping sites.

Environmental Management Agency provincial manager for Bulawayo metropolitan province, Decent Ndlovu, said a lot needs to be done to change the mind-sets of the people of Makokoba.

Last year, Entumbane followed by Makokoba suburb topped the list of the dirtiest suburbs and this year the positions have shifted.

“We appeal to people from Makokoba to take note of illegal dumping sites as the suburb is now the worst in Bulawayo. We will start moving during the night to catch those who dump waste illegally,” said Ndlovu.

“From our visit last year, Entumbane had greatly improved and we hope Makokoba will follow suit. Waste levels keep increasing in Makokoba and there’s a lot to be done to bring an end to illegal dumping.”

Bulawayo City Council senior public relations officer Nesisa Mpofu said the city had come a long way in ensuring that refuse removal teams cover all high density suburbs.

“Before we launched the project in partnership with private vehicle owners, we were collecting refuse once a fortnight from some high density suburbs. We also note that in terms of cost cutting, the project has reduced council costs,” said Mpofu.

“For a long time the city had faced challenges in terms of refuse removal because of limited refuse compactors. However, with this project with private vehicle owners, we find that we will be able to collect refuse with 19 compactors compared to 25 and this will lengthen their durability.”by Thandeka Moyo