Harare City Council’s delays in finalising its new waste-collection tender have resulted in visible rubbish pile-ups across Mbare, particularly in Majubeki Lines, Matapi Flats and Nenyere. Resident associations such as the Harare Residents Trust noted continued non-collection between 14–22 November, with council acknowledging procurement processes were still underway. In response, informal recyclers — already active in the area — have intensified sorting and sale of plastics, cardboard and scrap to local buyers as a coping mechanism. Environmental health officers warned that the onset of rains increases risks of cholera, typhoid, and mosquito breeding around unmanaged dumpsites. While this self-organized recycling provides temporary relief, the broader sanitation crisis highlights Harare’s stalled waste-management systems and the public-health vulnerabilities created by procurement delays.
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