Isles residents warned against sand mining, waste dumping

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR Residents have been urged to stop illegal sand mining and the dumping of waste in unauthorised areas in a bid to safeguard public health and protect the island’s biodiversity.

Unguja West “B” District Commissioner (DC), Amour Yussuf Mmanga warned yesterday during a community clean-up exercise at an informal dumpsite in Kisauni Vigaeni that unregulated waste disposal near residential areas poses serious health hazards, damages infrastructure and reduces overall quality of life.

“This land was designated for a sustainable water supply project, but unfortunately, some residents have turned it into a dumping site,” he said.

The exercise also involved public education efforts and the formation of community committees to prevent future environmental degradation.

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Municipal Director Sabra Issa Machano said that 25 unauthorised dumpsites in the district will be cleared.

She added that education campaigns will run alongside stricter enforcement, including fines for those caught polluting the environment.

Health Officer, Mr Jabir Suleiman Haji insisted that there were serious health risks associated with such practices, noting that waste sites located near homes contribute to disease outbreaks such as cholera and malaria.

Community members welcomed the initiative, with several calling on parents to stop children from engaging in illegal sand mining and dumping activities.