Depositing solid waste outside the appropriate place and/or burning it inside containers will now lead to a fine and criminal proceedings against those who do it, in the city of Chimoio, Manica province.

The city councilor explains that burning solid waste inside containers reduces the longevity of the asset and causes public health problems by generating huge amounts of soot and smoke.

Quoted by NewsJoão Ferreira said that the practice of throwing garbage on the ground occurs in Mozambican cities, and that the residents of Chimoio don't dare to do it when they travel to South Africa or Zimbabwe.

However, he is satisfied that the majority of residents comply with the urban code. He acknowledges the challenge of raising awareness among the smaller number of residents who still throw garbage on the ground and accumulate it in pits and ditches.

"The days of this kind of reprehensible behavior are numbered. Anyone who throws litter in any way will be penalized," he said.

On this list, the municipality of Chimoio will include those citizens who dig pits and create rubbish dumps anywhere, without the permission of the municipality. This makes it difficult to collect them and promotes the idea that hygiene and health services are inactive.

On the other hand, he guaranteed that the municipality will reinforce the fleet of trucks for garbage collection, and is counting on the partnership of international institutions.