_Forward Everywhere_ *Mutare new by-law...US$5000 fine for littering in public* Advertise with us WhatsApp +263 77 443 4698 Ngatibatane pa WhatsApp Channel 👇🏾 *View and Follow and Share this channel* https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaJEcyNDTkK81mXyWB0s LITTERING in undesignated areas within the City of Mutare will attract a substantial fine of US$5 000 under the new by-laws currently being drafted by the local authority, The Manica Post has established. By-laws are localised laws that govern specific council areas, addressing various issues such as land use, waste management, and public health. Local authorities are expected to regularly review and update their by-laws to reflect changes in community needs, legal requirements, and best practices. Accordingly, Mutare City Council is currently engaged in the consultation process to update its by-laws. The consultation process, which invites residents and ratepayers to provide input, is set to be concluded by the end of this month. The by-law update process involves public consultations, legal review, and council approval before the bylaws are enacted. Under the Anti-Litter section, the proposed by-laws indicate that anyone found littering in undesignated areas will be liable to a fine of US$5 000. “City of Mutare (Anti-Litter) By-Laws, 2025: Any person who contravenes any provision of these by-laws shall be liable to a fine specified in the First Schedule. Fails to provide an adequate number of bins in and around his or her area of business (US$20). Depositing litter in any public place (US$5 000). Sweeps any waste into a gutter, road reserve or road culvert (US$20). Disturbs anything in, or removes anything from any receptacles, which has been placed for purposes of collecting litter (US$10). “Fails to pick up any litter which, in the exercise of his or her business, has fallen on any public place — US$5. Refuses to comply with an instruction issued by an authorised person in terms of Section 4(2) (US$50). Deposits or abandons or causes or permits to be deposited or abandoned any form of litter in a public place (US$100).” The proposed by-law defines litter as any substance or object, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous, that is discarded, abandoned, or deposited in a public place or other area, including, but not limited to paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, metal, or other materials. “Litter includes any diapers, containers, wrappings, cartons, cigarette-packets, paper, vegetable matter, garden waste, hedge-clippings, dead animals, ash, tins, rubbish, bricks, stones, rubble, soil and any other matter or substance which is unwholesome, offensive or untidy.” Mutare City Council Town Clerk, Mr Blessing Chafesuka, said: “We are currently updating our by-laws, a process that involves input from all stakeholders. The proposals outlined in the document are subject to approval by Mutare City residents and ratepayers. We encourage all stakeholders to participate in the ongoing consultation process, as the finalised document will have far-reaching implications for everyone in Mutare.” Under the section that deals with abandoned vehicles, the by-laws read: “(1) No vehicle shall be placed, left at any open place, road side or any land for the purpose of dumping without the consent of council. (2) If the abandoned vehicle is left unattended to after 48 hours, council shall endeavour to look for the owner of the abandoned vehicle, and give notice to him or her by way of a written document. “(3) Upon heeding the notice from council, the owner of the abandoned vehicle shall pay to council towing and storage fees. (4) Should the owner of the abandoned vehicle fail to remove their vehicle within three working days, council shall tow away the abandoned vehicle to a storage facility at the expense of the owner. “(5) If the vehicle is abandoned in an inconvenient place, council shall tow away the abandoned vehicle within 24 hours to a storage facility at the expense of the owner. (6) If the owner of the abandoned vehicle fails to redeem their abandoned vehicle for 60 days, council shall dispose of the vehicle through an advertised auction to recover expenses. “Tow away fees: Light motor vehicles (US$61,93) (and) heavy motor vehicles (US$500). Storage fees — light motor vehicles (US$20) per day (and) heavy motor vehicles (UU$50) per day.” The proposed by-laws comprise 22 sections, covering a wide range of regulations, including Abandoned Vehicles, Anti-Litter, Cemetery, Control of Livestock, Control of Worship in Open Spaces, Cycle, Dog Licence, Environment, Fire, Food Hygiene, Game Meat, Hairdressers and Barbers, Hawkers and Vendors, Human Excreta Not to Be Used as Fertiliser, Mining and Mineral Panning, Noise, Occupation of Council Properties, Registration and Licenced Premises, Taxi and Cab, Traffic, Clamping and Tow Away, Urban Agriculture as well as Water, Drainage and Sewerage. Mr Chafesuka said: “We invite residents to provide input on the draft by-laws, ensuring that the final product has broad support and buy-in from all stakeholders. This will facilitate smoother enforcement. Interested ratepayers and residents can submit their feedback in hard copy to the office of the Town Clerk at Civic Centre, Mutare.” United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMRRT) programmes director, Mr Edmore Dube, said: “I think the by-laws we are using were long overdue for amendment. One could see that these by-laws were colonial, and did not address the current realities and challenges we face as a city. Some of the fines were not punitive enough from both the council’s and our perspective as a residents’ association. For example, littering is a significant issue, with corporate entities being the biggest polluters. Some companies operating in the city dump truckloads of litter indiscriminately, while residents also contribute to the problem. “We believe the revised punishment is sufficient. We need to live in a clean environment, which is a constitutional provision. Another example is the prohibitive measures against streambank cultivation, which has caused flash flooding. People may agree with me that this year saw serious incidents of flash flooding due to deliberate litter dumping in drainage lines. We are confident that the council conducted wide consultations, and obtained buy-in from residents and companies committed to living in a clean and normal environment.” Zimbabwe National Organisation of Association of Residents Trust provincial chairman, Mr Rodreck Chasauka, said: “The by-laws are unwelcome and an ambush on the community, lacking clarity. We are also concerned that insufficient timeframe was given for residents’ contributions. There were no outreach programmes seeking people’s opinions. Advertisements were restricted to the Press, with no other channels used. As a result, many residents are unaware of the contents. Furthermore, the by-laws are only available in one language, omitting local languages. Many residents will be surprised if the by-laws are implemented. Awareness needs to be relaunched, and more time should be given for residents to scrutinise the bylaws.” Mr Obert Dhliwayo, a resident of Chikanga suburb, said: “It is true that the by-laws were archaic and needed updating. I welcome this process, and believe anyone who wants to contribute seriously can do so before the deadline. “Our challenge is that people only become concerned when they are eventually affected, but they rarely participate in the law-making process. How many people attend community consultation meetings or school development committee meetings?” Mr Munyaradzi Hove, a resident of Dangamvura said: “I do not know anything about the by-laws issue you are talking about.”