Residents, church leaders, environmental officials and city representatives in Bulawayo have marked National Clean-Up Day with a joint clean-up exercise and renewed calls for a culture of everyday cleanliness.
The campaign, hosted by the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations, saw participants collecting litter along a stretch from Unity Village to TM Hyper, as part of efforts to promote environmental responsibility.
Sindah Ngulube, chairperson of the Bulawayo provincial chapter of the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations, said communities should go beyond symbolic participation and adopt a lifestyle of cleanliness.
“We want to encourage our neighbours, friends and children to observe this day and then go beyond. Let us pick up a lifestyle of cleanliness. Without a clean city we are going nowhere,” she said.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) also used the occasion to promote recycling as a practical solution to waste management challenges.
EMA planning and monitoring officer Opra Sibanda urged communities to separate waste at source.
“There should be bins for glass, plastics and other waste. This helps communities and churches to stay clean, and it can also generate income because some businesses buy recyclable waste,” Sibanda said.
Representing Mayor David Coltart, Ward 23 councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo said collaboration between residents, churches, government agencies and the city council was key to sustaining cleanliness.
“It is only through such collaborative initiatives that we can keep our city clean,” Khumalo said.
She said President Emmerson Mnangagwa had announced plans to introduce awards for local authorities that consistently observe the national clean-up campaign and keep their municipalities clean.
“As the City of Bulawayo, we take this challenge seriously and believe such initiatives position us to be among the winners,” she said.
However, Khumalo stressed that cleanliness should not be driven by the prospect of awards.
“We are not doing this so that we win an award. We are doing this to ensure that our city is clean. We used to be the smartest city in Southern Africa, and through commitment we can make our city clean again,” she said.
She warned that illegal dumping and littering, particularly into storm drains, was contributing to flash flooding during the rainy season.
“Keeping the city clean is not a one-day event but should be a daily routine,” Khumalo said.
She added that the council remains concerned about continued illegal dumping despite regular refuse collection.
“When we keep Bulawayo clean, we create an environment that is conducive for business and tourism,” she said.
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