LOCAL Government and Rural Development permanent secretary -technical services Nicholas Phiri has called on citizens to actively police illegal waste dumping by recording offenders and sharing the evidence online.
He warned that failure to act could plunge the country into a serious disaster.
Phiri said this today during an inspection of the collapsed perimeter wall at Mahatma Gandhi Community Ground, which gave way due to excessive water pressure and clogged drainage caused by illegal dumping of solid waste.
He praised a resident of Mtendere East who recently captured a video of a fellow citizen dumping waste during the rain so as to allow the rubbish to be swept away by water.
“This is the waste that ends up blocking our drainage systems and causing damage like this. Let us be each other’s keeper. Take as many videos as you can and share them online.”
“We in the Ministry and local authorities will take keen interest and ensure the law is enforced,” Phiri said.
He explained that while waste management remains the responsibility of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and local authorities, citizens also have a duty to safeguard their communities.
The permanent secretary warned that if illegal dumping continues unchecked, the country could soon face serious consequences, including the collapse of infrastructure and potential loss of life.
“If we do not act together, the issue of solid waste will shock us as a country,” said Phiri.
By George Musonda
Kalemba January 7, 2026
