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THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has embarked on a three-day clean up exercise in Victoria Falls as part of preparations for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly.
With less than seven days to go before Zimbabwe and Zambia co-host the tourism indaba from 24 to 29 August, EMA with one of its strategic partners, Mimosa Mining Company, started a massive clean-up campaign in Victoria Falls on Thursday which is expected to end today.
The clean-up campaign would see stakeholders cleaning the entire town from the industrial sites, Central Business District, hotels and residential areas.
In an interview, EMA regional manager Mrs Chipo Mpofu-Zuze said her organisation was just playing a facilitation role as stakeholders and residents in the resort town had taken it upon themselves to clean their town ahead of the general assembly.
“We are in Victoria Falls to facilitate the clean-up exercise aimed at having the town clean ahead of the general assembly. We are premising the clean-up on the rights of the people to stay in a clean environment and the right to protect the environment which is enshrined in the Environment Act.
“We are happy that the residents have actually taken it upon themselves to clean the areas they live in,” she said.
Mrs Mpofu-Zuze said it was also in the Zimbabwean culture to clean the environment or home when expecting visitors.
She praised the Victoria Falls Municipality for playing a huge role in making the resort town clean by setting up a waste management committee.
“Victoria Falls was divided into three zones and yesterday (Thursday) stakeholders and residents cleaned the CBD, low density suburb and the industrial areas. Today (yesterday) Mkhosana Township was cleaned and tomorrow (today) it would be Chinotimba Township,” said Mrs Zuze-Mpofu.
She called on the residents and journalists to embrace the separation of litter campaign so that waste was not mixed for easy recycling.
“The curio vendors should also consider taking up recycling as a means of source of income instead of just relying on curio trade only,” said Mrs Zuze-Mpofu.
She said in a demonstration of commitment towards a cleaner Zimbabwe and Zero Harm to the environment, Mimosa Mining Company had been supporting EMA in all the clean-up exercise they have been doing in the country.
“Today we are with Mimosa Mining Company and other companies should borrow a leaf from this company so that we have a clean Zimbabwe,” said Mrs Zuze-Mpofu.
Meanwhile, Zanu-PF youths led by the councillor-elect for Ward One, Cde Mathew Muleya, went around town removing political campaign material from buildings, poles and trees.
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