Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
ONE of the contractors rehabilitating the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway, Masimba Engineering, is complementing its road construction work with an environmental conservation campaign aimed at encouraging motorists and members of the public to keep the country’s premier tourism corridor free of litter.
The company, which has already opened 13 kilometres of its 50-kilometre rehabilitation stretch to traffic, has erected a prominent billboard at the 85-kilometre peg bearing the message: “You are now entering a no littering zone.”
The initiative is designed to promote responsible waste disposal and encourage road users to play their part in protecting the environment while travelling along one of Zimbabwe’s busiest tourism and trade routes.
Littering remains a major environmental concern across the country, with discarded plastic bottles, food wrappers, cans and other waste degrading the natural landscape, threatening wildlife and blocking drainage systems, which can contribute to flooding and road damage.
The campaign also reminds motorists and the travelling public that littering is a criminal offence under Zimbabwean law.
In terms of Section 83 of the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27], it is an offence to discard, dump or leave litter on any land, street or road except in receptacles provided for that purpose or at designated waste disposal sites.
Environmental experts have consistently called for greater public awareness and stricter enforcement of anti-littering laws, arguing that cleaner highways not only enhance Zimbabwe’s image as a tourist destination but also protect ecosystems, improve public health and reduce environmental degradation.
Masimba Engineering’s environmental awareness initiative comes as rehabilitation works on the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway continue to gather momentum. The project forms part of the Government’s wider road infrastructure modernisation programme aimed at improving connectivity, promoting trade and tourism, and enhancing road safety.
By combining infrastructure development with environmental stewardship, the company is encouraging a culture of shared responsibility in preserving the country’s road network and surrounding environment for future generations.
