Harare — Harare City Council has no capacity to collect garbage from households despite collecting monthly refuse charges from the people, town clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi has said.

Dr Mahachi made the remarks during a review meeting of the Cabinet taskforce on cholera on Monday as the Libyan government donated a consignment of drugs and water treatment chemicals to mitigate the spread and recurrence of cholera.

He said council was owed US$30 million in unpaid refuse fees because residents were protesting the non-delivery of the service.

Libyan Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Taher Elmagrahe said the drugs and chemicals were part of the US$850 000 assistance package by the people of Libya to Zimbabwe. The drugs and chemicals would be distributed to all health centres across the country.

"We will continue to give. This consignment is from the people of Libya to the people of Zimbabwe," he said.

Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo said Ambassador Elmagrahe should convey to the government of Libya the message of appreciation from the people of Zimbabwe.

"Tell your people that the people of Zimbabwe are happy and appreciate the kind gesture," he said.

However, despite efforts by other organisations to assist, Harare City Council is far less prepared to deal with cholera as garbage remains uncollected in all suburbs. Council has delayed the acquisition of refuse trucks preferring to buy the plant and equipment in January next year by which time the mounting refuse could result in a cholera outbreak.

"Our fleet is heavily depleted. We do not have vehicles to cover the whole of Harare. We expect delivery of refuse trucks by end of January," he said.

Government Ministers present were not amused by the lack of urgency and seriousness on the part of Harare City Council.

Energy and Power Development Minister Elias Mudzuri felt Mayor Muchadeyi Masunda or his deputy, Councillor Emmanuel Chiroto, should have attended the meeting to understand the political imperatives driving the programme. Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu was equally unhappy saying the city management lacked seriousness.

Environment and Natural Resources Management Minister Francis Nhema said the city should introduce spot fines for refuse dumping and wondered why council had stopped the practice when it seemed to be paying dividends. He said council should ban the open selling of meat and fish on the streets adding that fish from Chivero had been condemned as a health hazard.