The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in Zimbabwe has for some months now taken more strict approaches in dealing with perpetrators of waste mismanagement in the country: especially those that dump litter at designated areas. But as a way to retaliate, the perpetrators have found ways to outsmart the agency officials.

A trend that seams to be on the rise in some areas in my home-town of Bulawayo is that residents dump waste during the night to evade arrest.The  agency have considered conducting night raids in the affected areas.

"We are now going to ambush residents at night to contain the increase in illegal dump-sites. What we have observed is that most of the dumping is done during the night and the only way we can catch the perpetrators is to carry out raids during the night." Said EMA provincial manager for Bulawayo metropolitan province Mr Decent Ndlovu.

"If we catch anyone dumping waste at designated areas we will not hesitate applying the law. A fine or a court hearing will be the repercussions for those caught during the act.

Illegal dump-sites are favorably breeding grounds for vermin, flies and mosquitoes.

They have also become sources of unpleasant odors, compromising human health.

The risk of diseases such as cholera, dysentery and diarrhea increases where waste is not regularly collected and properly disposed of. In some instances, the illegal dumps are found close to market places where food is sold.