The CSO's secretary Lowani Kalua says the council takes too long to remove waste which has been Piling up at Kasalasala market, causing the market to be contaminated.

Kalua said the Kasalasala market is where almost all people in the district buy food stuffs and it needs to be cleaned up often times.

Kalua added that the location of the dumping site is also putting lives of many people around the area at risk.

"The dumping site which we are using here is surrounded by people and these people their lives are at risk of suffering from disease such as cholera," said Kalua.

Environmental health officer for Rumphi district Gift Nyirenda described the concerns as genuine but says the council's failure to manage waste is due to lack of resources.

"For the meantime we do note have a vehicle to be used in carrying the waste to the dumping site," lamented Nyirenda.

Nyirenda further faulted the Civil Society Organizations and the business communities for failing to take part in the clean up exercise which occurs monthly.

He says the clean up exercise is an answer to their concerns if everyone is involved saying currently most people in the district consider the exercise as for the officials from the district council.