MCC secures temporary dump site as Msilo Waste Management remains closed

By Rose Mahorya – Mana.
Mzuzu City residents can now breathe a sigh of relief following news that the council has secured a temporary place to dump refuse after weeks of accumulation.
Mzuzu City Council (MCC) has for the past month been failing to collect garbage in the city following closure of its waste management facility located in Dunduzu by the community around the facility, about 10 kilometres from the city going towards Karonga.
According to MCC Public Relations Officer, MacDonald Gondwe, the city council has secured a temporary site at Lusangazi Forest in the Viphya Plantation for waste disposal.
“Our team is working with speed to clear garbage in all strategic places including at the refuse bank in Mzuzu City Central Business District (CBD).
“Although we are still discussing with the community at Msilo Waste Management (at Dunduzu) on the reopening of the disposal structure, as a future plan, the council is also looking for other sites within and outside Mzuzu for the cause,” he said.
Random interviews with residents in the CBD show that the securing of temporary dump site is welcome news.
“We can’t stand the stench anymore. We sell fresh food and flies are everywhere, let the council come and remove the wastes,” said Maria Bonface, one of restaurant owners in the city.
“Keeping waste uncollected for over a month is a health hazard, it is about time the council found a back-up plan other than just waiting for Msilo residents to calm down,” said MacDonald Phiri, a second hand clothes seller.
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