A sea of garbage on streets uncleaned for the past three months greets those who approach Nyanga from the Borcherds Quarry Road.

In Lusaka, the mushrooming piles of rubbish have grown to the point that it is impossible for people to walk on the pavement.

Parts of Ntlangano Crescent and Mtsha Street in the township are now little more than dumping sites for rubbish, say residents.

The stench of things rotting hangs over this foul feast for the flies.

Rubble, old mattresses, nappies and bottles lie all around, choking part of Mtsha Street.

Municipal workers fear coming here to collect the rubbish because of thugs who run protection rackets, say residents.

“Piles of rubbish in the townships are something that is a common sight of late. You can go to all the areas where you will be shocked. This is because we are ruled by extortionists,” says Vuyani* who is selling meat not far from the rotting rubbish.

“Do we blame the City? Yes and no. As the government, they should put their foot down and fight the scourge. But, again, we cannot blame it because we live here; we should be responsible for our areas and our health.”

Sizwe* says he must keep his house closed up to keep the smell out.

“As you can see, it is even difficult for motorists to pass each other. In a few days, the whole street will be a no-go area if no one intervenes. In this area, we breathe this unhealthy smell.

“We have people dumping here for different reasons. There are containers that we have been using, but the municipal workers can never come and collect the waste, for reasons known by all here.”

The rubbish is home to stray dogs, and children play among it. While residents fear the threat of sickness that living in such conditions might bring, they also fear the thugs who control the area, says Sizwe

“No one wants to die. We are living in fear of not only diseases but guns too from those who rule us. For now, the community will continue to live under this situation.”

Ward councillor Sandile Martins says the City contractor responsible for cleaning the area left after being threatened. He has appealed to the City for help but is still waiting for a response, he says.

“What is happening there is a concern for all. The rubbish is not a problem only for the residents but also for the safety of people.

“I recently got a call from the police about the rubble getting into the road. They were concerned that they could not do their work properly. You can see how serious that is.”

Residents tried to clean the area themselves after the contractor left, but they were also threatened by the extortionists, he says.

“The City should come with the law enforcement agencies just to clean for a day. As I said, I am waiting for the response from the City.”

The City has yet to respond to Vukani’s questions sent on Saturday .

* Names have been changed to protect the identity of sources who fear reprisals from thugs in the area for speaking out.

The mushrooming mounds of garbage swamp Ntlangano Crescent, one of the longest streets in Nyanga.

Streets in the area have become illegal dumps.

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