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CASE STUDY 2
Accountability and Social Action in Health - A Case Study on Solid Waste Management in Three Local Authority Areas of Zimbabwe
Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC )with Civic Forum on Housing (CFH)
Solid waste management is a major challenge to most urban local authorities in Zimbabwe. Rapid urbanisation in the last decade, coupled with economic decline and social disruption, placed considerable strain on local authorities’ resources, resulting in their failure to provide adequate services to residents. By 2009, residents were discontent about waste management and the social problems created by waste dumping. To build capacity, strengthen accountability and facilitate sustainable options at the local level on solid waste management, Training and Research Support Centre (TARSC) and Civic Forum on Housing (CFH) used participatory research in 2010 to map the situation. Training and working with community-based researchers, TARSC and CFH identified actions for communities, the private sector and service organisations in three local authority areas of Zimbabwe (Chitungwiza, Epworth and Mutare). Researchers and civil society organisations met with the local authorities and industry and identified areas for follow-up action. The community-based researchers implemented civic education on social waste management and clean-up campaigns. As civil society, the researchers also engaged with local authorities and the private sector on waste recycling and reuse, monitored and raised issues with the local authority on waste disposal and used community feedback meetings to raise awareness and provide feedback and review of actions. This case study shares the evidence and experience of the research, activities and the lessons learnt by TARSC and CFH.
