admin Edmore Mazivofa
AT one point during the commemoration of Earth Day, a certain conservationist once said, “the wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats and biodiversity”. He went on to say that the pure purpose of science is not to conquer the environment but a pathway for humanity to be able to live in harmony with it.
The first step mankind should do to show love for nature is cleanliness, which Biblically is next to a strong and everlasting bond with the creator, God.
As the 20th century brings with it globalisation whose main characteristic is urbanisation, cities are growing with some having as much as 10 million inhabitants. For such enormous numbers, these towns need to be hygienic.
A clean city is a place where the air quality is good, the water is safe to drink and factories are not dumping harmful chemical waste into the environment.
It is also a place where one looks up and down streets that are free of garbage, and stroll through parks without stepping through litter.
With wide tree-lined avenues, parks and charming architecture, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city is attractive.
Once the cleanest in southern Africa, the metropolis has a lovely historic feel to it, and it is worth spending a night or two.
The city is also a popular base for trips to the nearby Khami Ruins and Matobo National Park, and an ideal staging point for Hwange National Park, on the way to Victoria Falls.
Named the “City of Kings and Queens”, Bulawayo has stood tall across the country as a better organised and cleanest city. From garbage collection, road and traffic maintenance (traffic lights) and good driving behaviour,’ “Skies” remains a city to reckon with.
All across the town, With RYG Led technology traffic lights, not a single one is not working with garbage collection lorries, criss-crossing almost at the rate of commuter omnibuses.
At one time then Local Government Rural and Urban Development Minister, Ignatius Chombo, commended the Bulawayo City Council for maintaining cleanliness and health standards in the city. Unlike Harare, which on several occasions has had many reports of typhoid outbreaks, Bulawayo has managed to remain on the top spot on environmental issues.
Like any other town across the country, Bulawayo residents are not spared from the current economic crisis.
Vending is on the prowl with all the 5.4 square kilometres CBD, 17 avenues and 11 streets in a grid pattern dotted with informal traders.
Only this time in this city, the type of vending is different. There is some logic in the way vending is done in ‘Bulliesberg’.
From those who roast mealie cobs to those who sell airtime, everyone has to have a small bin where the entire litter is thrown for the garbage man to collect.
The behaviour of the people in this city in caring for their environment is commendable.
Just like the commuter wars in Harare, the city has few problems as the authorities have managed to adjust the existence of the so called pirate taxis around the CBD and surrounding areas.
Due to less corruption in Bulawayo, strict traffic bylaws are being followed.
One of the city laws, which stipulate that boarding and offloading on undesignated places, throwing litter out of a vehicle and carrying of an extra passenger all attract a fee of $5, has put icing on the cake.
This is a place where everyone takes a little breath and comprehend that it’s not his/her town but it’s everybody’s.
Road rules are strictly observed in Bulawayo compared to Harare where honking and the screeching of tyres are the order of the day. A Bulawayo driver will find it difficult to drive in Harare as he or she is not used to shortcuts and is a lot more tolerant on the road than the one from the “Sunshine City.”
“We treat this town like our home, everybody sweeps his house every morning and we believe the same should be done all around the city,” said Vusa Khumalo an airtime vendor along Masotsha Ndlovu Avenue.
Due to its proximity to the Kalahari Desert, Bulawayo is vulnerable to droughts with low rainfall, which tend to vary sharply from one year to another, the city has managed to squeeze little drops for flower maintenance that add sparkle to its beauty. From Palm to Bougainvillea flowers, the city proves to be the best the country has.
Centenary and Central parks because of their beauty are Bulawayo’s monuments where weddings, birthday parties and entertainment events are held.
The park has become one of the traditions that have been embraced by the people of the City of Kings and Queens and it is a substitute venue that offers garden scenery with trees, flowers and fountains, all adorning the popular park.
There is also plenty to see along the well maintained walkways through the park.
Buildings are renovated and painted to match the required standards by the city fathers.
Protruding like a rock outcrop is the tallest building in the city, the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) headquarters.
Although old and standing at over 100 metres with 23 floors, the building has remained a marvel and a pride of the city.
Regardless of the company facing challenges in these difficult times, it has never backed down on infrastructure maintenance.
Situated on 9th Avenue between Fife Street and George Silundika Street is The Chronicle Building.
Though old, the building has been kept in shape and colour and remains the scribes’ pride.
This is the city where other local authorities can learn from.
Once an industrial hub of Zimbabwe, more factories have closed down but walking down these industrial areas, one needs to be told that the factories are closed permanently.
Unlike in the capital, Bulawayo residents have shown great resilience and hope that the economy will improve as witnessed by the daily cleaning of these areas.
“On a comparative basis, the Bulawayo Metropolitan Province and Bulawayo City Council in particular has performed fairly well in terms of service delivery particularly on solid waste management, road maintenance and civic participation,” Minister Chombo once said in 2013.
Down in the ghetto in Mzilikazi high density suburb it is more of the same with the general public showing pride of cleanliness of their area of habitation.
Benefits of the hosting of the 2014 Zone Six Youth Games can be witnessed at Barbourfields Stadium with the pitch showing signs of life.
Waste bins with such messages as “Keep Your City Clean; Don’t Litter” can be seen all over other areas. Given this scenario, it is exciting seeing people realising that there are a lot of benefits in sharing this task of keeping their vicinity clean.
In Bulawayo, there is a shared belief that all are equally responsible for their city.
Beyond the beauty of the natural and urban landscapes, culture or even food, there are enough reasons to visit this city; its cleanliness is a bonus that we cannot ignore.
Online Reporter