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Sifelani Tsiko
Innovations Editor
In the dusty home industry of a small town in Mashonaland Central Province, Kezias Ngwarati, a Guruve man popularly known as ‘Engineer General’ might be mistaken for a “big child” who loves playing with toys made from recycled plastic bottles of all sorts.
He collects an array of junk – old plastic containers, plastic bottles, engine and machine parts, electronic waste and creatively uses it to make toys and valuable home décor items.
“This pile of junk is an inspiration for me. I can turn anything that you throw away into valuable toys and items for home decoration,” he said.
“I never went to school but I can repair anything from irons, cars, electrical gadgets, and anything you can think of,” says the dreadlocked Engineer General.
“I collect used plastic containers of all types – engine oil containers, plastic bottles, and all kinds of junk. I then use my creativity to add value to this by making toys and other useful items.”
Engineer General is a jack–of–all–trades and is very competent in a range of disciplines – repairing solar gadgets, agricultural implements, cars, and engines of all sorts.
He spends endless hours at his makeshift ‘industry’ and assembling toys using locally sourced trash.
“I make toys which I can sell for US$3 or even more, depending on the type. I charge more for electrical toys,” said Engineer General.
“I stay here in this shack, my industrial workshop. Right now, I am working on a washing machine. I have done the designs and I want it to be solar-powered. I can do anything.”
His passion for his creations began when he was a child.
“I was born like that – full of ideas, full of creativity and I can think of ways to make things,” he said.
“When people bring their gadgets, I always find solutions. I can repair anything from solar gadgets, electrical gadgets, agricultural implements and car engines.”
In a way, he is helping to promote environmental conservation and create self-employment. His art is a critical approach that assumes the bottom-up model of environmental conservation.
Plastic waste is spiralling out of control across the world.
In 2019, plastics generated 1,8 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions – 3,4 percent of the global total, according to a United Nations environment report.
Zimbabwe generates more than 300 000 tonnes of plastic waste every year and a significant proportion of it is dumped onto the streets or open areas, thereby clogging sewers and causing sewer lines to burst, according to the Environmental Management Agency.
This waste also clogs storm drains and provides a breeding ground for diseases such as cholera, malaria, and dysentery.
“We can reuse plastic bottles to make toys and help manage waste,” Engineer General said.
“I am doing it and I need support to scale up my work.”
Online Reporter