Vusumuzi Dube
Michelle Musandinyoze, [email protected]
RELIGIOUS organisations in Bulawayo on Friday joined residents in the National Clean-Up Campaign, heeding President Mnangagwa’s call for collective action in promoting a clean and healthy environment.
The clean-up exercise brought together several churches, including the Roman Catholic Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Apostolic Faith Church and various Pentecostal congregations, in a show of unity and civic responsibility.
Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) national chairperson, Reverend Mbongeni Dube, who also coordinated the exercise, said the initiative was inspired by both Government policy and Biblical teachings on stewardship and responsibility.
Rev Dube said Christians were guided by scripture that calls believers to be the “salt and light of the earth” as outlined in Matthew 5:13-14, which he said obliges them to care for their surroundings.
“As churches, we are leading by example towards a clean Bulawayo. Our motivation comes from both Government and theology. In the Bible, God created human beings and placed them in a garden, instructing them to look after it,” he said.
Rev Dube said the campaign was being implemented in collaboration with other faith groups and institutions, including the Muslim community, Bulawayo City Council and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
“We are working together with other religious movements, the city council and EMA. We also have the blessings and support of the mayor and the Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution for this programme. Our objective is to see a clean Bulawayo,” he said.
Rev Dube said the churches hoped the clean-up exercise would encourage wider participation by residents and prompt the city council to complement the efforts through improved service delivery and incentives.
He said the initiative also targets behaviour change, particularly among vendors and businesses operating in the central business district (CBD).
“We are engaging vendors and other stakeholders through workshops to instil a culture of cleanliness. The mindset shift is critical. We want to start with key groups such as vendors and business people in the CBD,” he said.
Areas cleaned during the exercise included Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Street to 10th Avenue, Sixth Avenue to Fort Street and Herbert Chitepo Street.
Another participant, Nonkanyiso Mabaleka from Amazing Grace City Church, said the clean-up drive went beyond removing litter, but aimed at shaping responsible citizen behaviour.
“It is not just about cleaning streets, but about building a culture that can grow in people and be passed on to future generations. We cannot expect progress from dirty streets,” she said.
Mabaleka said a clean environment contributes to broader development, including improved infrastructure, economic growth and community pride.
“When we raise the standard of our city, it impacts other areas such as our economy and even our finances. The city is our responsibility, and we must renew our mindset,” she said.
The National Clean-Up Campaign, held monthly, continues to draw participation from various sectors as Government pushes for sustainable urban cleanliness and environmental protection.
Online Reporter