Kaunda Square Stage II market burns garbage
Written by Millennium on January 25, 2019
LINDA SOKO-TEMBO writes
HUGE flames of fire, billowing smoke and a choking foul smell is what Kaunda Square State two residents were subjected on Wednesday night when unknown people at the council-run market torched a heap of garbage.
The market cooperative officials expressed total ignorance about the source of the fire to the garbage, the second time it has happened within two months.
“I’m not sure who did but it’s not us,” responded an official from the market cooperative when queried about the burning garbage.
He refused to mention his names but simply walked away through the clouds of smelly smoke.
Lusaka City Council described the burning of garbage as an illegal act and warned the person who started the fire would be prosecuted if found.
Council Assistant Public Relations Manager Brendah Katongola told the Sun by telephone yesterday that all marketers are expected to subscribe to waste collection services.
“As a council, we are mandated to collect waste from our markets. We cannot shoot ourselves in the foot by burning the garbage,” she stated.
Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) also warned that the open burning of garbage, whether at household or institutional level, is a crime under the Environmental management Act No. 12 of 2011.
“Such acts are of great concern to us because they cause air pollution which is not allowed. We will prosecute and fine anyone found doing that,” stated ZEMA corporate affairs manager Ireen Chipili.
She said, “Let the council also know about such acts because it’s their responsibility to manage the markets.”