British authorities have fined the organisers of Zimfest UK £3 000 (R71 906) after council workers discovered at least 15 heaps of human faeces and other waste around the Hertfordshire Showground and nearby roads following the event.
The festival, held over the weekend, attracted more than 30 000 attendees.
Many of them were Zimbabweans living in the UK, including recent migrants on skilled worker visas.
The event is a flagship celebration of Zimbabwean music, food, and culture in the diaspora calendar.
Public spaces left in shocking state
Council workers and residents reportedly discovered piles of human excrement, used condoms, and overflowing bins in and around the festival site.
The unsanitary conditions drew swift condemnation from members of the community.
Authorities imposed the fine as part of broader scrutiny over how the organisers managed the event.
Critics have flagged the organisers’ failure to provide enough toilets and manage waste properly as key issues, especially as festival attendance grows each year.
The increase in visitors, driven in part by the expanding Zimbabwean diaspora in the UK, placed additional pressure on the event’s logistics, especially sanitation services.
Call for better planning in future events
While Zimfest UK remains a popular cultural gathering, this year’s sanitation failures have raised concerns about future event planning.
According to Zimeye, several attendees have urged organisers to better coordinate with authorities, add more portable toilets, and improve waste disposal.
Despite the backlash, many still look forward to future editions of the festival. However, organisers must fix the logistical issues that marred this year’s event.
How can large cultural festivals better prepare for crowd management and sanitation to protect public health and community reputation?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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