Some of the scavengers have set up a settlement of plastic shacks on the rubbish dumb, popularly known as Ngozi Mine, located on the outskirts of the city along the highway to Victoria Falls. This reporter visited the site last week and found men, children and women sweating it out in the rubble, which included an assortment of dead animals, domestic and industrial waste. The scavengers were hard at work digging through mounds of garbage with bare hands, salvaging items ranging from plastic paper, metal and bones to cardboard and worn out footwear and clothing.
“I live in that sack over there and I have been scavenging for the past two years. I wake up early every day and salvage plastic containers and bags as well as cardboard, which I sell to vegetable vendors at Rankin long distance bus terminus. I am paid R5 per kilogramme of plastic,” said Forbes Moyo, a father of two.
Another scavenger, Lorrence Zimuto, who stays at the nearby Emakhandeni high density said on a good day he can collect 10 kgs of aluminium, which he sells to dealers in the industrial areas.
“On a good day, I can pick up to 10 kgs of aluminium coated gadgets and strip them. My clients, who are mostly back yard coffin makers, pay $5 per kg. Some clients are taking advantage of our plight by offering us ridiculous prices .This kind of job is extremely hard and dehumanizing, but we have no option because we have to live,” said Zimuto.
“We work well together here, but sometimes we fight over rubbish. You see, one may claim ownership of a heap that has just been off loaded by a dump truck and an argument ensues with another member also claiming the same trash heap,” he said, sounding quite possessive of the reeking dumping area.
Closer to the settlement, an even more smelly colony is fast taking shape. It is unbelievable how these squatters manage to endure the smell from the dump pit. Despite the heavy stench, our news crew witnessed scavengers knee-deep in decomposing opaque beer dregs, completely oblivious of the sickening stench. They scoop as much of this stuff as they can, dry it and sieve it. The dried dregs are sold to fisherman as bait.
An elderly man, Lameck Banda, who lives in a nearby shack, said for the past two years he has endured the smell because he has no option.
Post published in: News