Mzuzu City Urged to Address Piles of Garbage as Cholera Pandemic Wreaks Havoc

Malawi: As cholera continues to devastate Malawi, the city of Mzuzu in the Evergreen region is facing increasing concern over piles of garbage that have been left uncollected, writes Tionge Hara.

Many are questioning whether the city is even functioning, as the garbage often sits for extended periods of time.

Business owners and residents are urging the Mzuzu City authorities to address this issue, as it is putting people's lives at risk.

Audria Mlima, a 38-year-old businesswoman in the town's market, told AfricaBrief that "it is a very big problem, and the city should take note."

Rogers Phiri, a concerned resident, pointed out that the city needs to act quickly, as the rainy season is already upon them and the dumped garbage is not a proper solution.

Phiri added that they are not begging the city, but rather asking them to "do the needful as soon as possible."

When contacted for comment, Mzuzu City spokesperson Macdonald Gondwe stated that they are looking into the matter and plan to address it before the end of the day.

We also caught up with one of the country’s environmentalists, Mathews Malata, on the matter.

What specific steps are being taken to address the issue of overflowing trash in the country's cities?

How can citizens and environmental activists work together to improve waste management practices in the country?