Comments on: Rats running riot in Harare

By: Tapiwa

Tapiwa — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:05:43 +0000

Waste recycling has become big business in some countries, and I wonder why this is not being taken up here. Its amazimg that we have problems of waste and rats when other people are seeing money and opportunity

By: Abie

Abie — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:40:26 +0000

What is the City Council doing?, every month we are made to pay huge sums of money for rates! if the City Council is unable to cope then they should stop collecting rates and give the job to private contractors who can do the work. We the people are also to blame, instead of putting rubbish in plastic bags and bins we dispose all sorts of rubbish anyhow. I have had of rats not only being a problem for humans but even cars, once they bite pipes on you car, sorry shamwari so watch out for your car Natty………

Thanks for this write up, if possible maybe we should start our own refuse collection business and save Zimbabwe!!!!!!! Anyone willing to join me?????

By: Natasha

Natasha — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:51:42 +0000

LOL, I like the part about the army shooting them rats; give them something meaningful to do instead of spending the whole saluting each other. Actually, I read somewhere about residents who turned rat hunting into a sport where big cash rewards are given. I agree with you, separating recyclable material from garbage could go a long way in decreasing waste, however I have often moaned the fact that the culture of recycling has for some reason, not take root in Zim. I imagine I should probably go into that business myself..

By: Sally D

Sally D — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:38:10 +0000

Interesting. I wonder if more “rubbish pits” are really the answer. Maybe this is a challenge moment to do something about the mountains of waste. The only difference between Harare and everywhere else, is that our waste gets carried away to form a mountain elsewhere where we can’t see or smell it.

What about neighbours getting together to make compost heaps, separating rubbish, finding ways to recycle plastics or glass? What about “worm farms” – a low tech solution that turns smelly rubbish into fabulous plant food?

I know it’s easy to talk from a position of relative comfort. But recently we were lucky enough to visit both UK and Australia and in those countries, the bin provided by the Council for rubbish – anything not separated for recycling – is now not much bigger than the average kitchen bin in South Africa.

Might even be a market opportunity for people to get out there and shoot the rats. Something useful the Army could do for a change instead of stealing diamonds and bananas on behalf of some Chef?

Sally D, Western Cape