dyton mupawaendaThe Herald, 13 June, 1984
HARARE City Council is mounting a clean-up operation to rid the capital of litterbugs and offenders may pay fines up to $1 000, the town clerk Cde Edward Kanengoni said in a televised interview last night.
He also said the council was to build two people’s markets worth $60 000 in order to remove illegal vendors from streets.
On what moves the municipal police and the Zimbabwe Republic Police would take if they met with resistance, the town clerk said the campaign would be a continuing exercise and the council would deploy its forces in those areas it knew were frequented by litterbugs. — Ziana.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Cleanliness is next to Godliness is a saying which underlines the need for people to maintain high levels of hygiene. This includes personal and our surroundings.
One of the biggest challenges that the City of Harare has been grappling with in its quest to becoming the Sunshine City has been the issue of litterbugs.
Litterbugs do not only affect their immediate environs on the surface alone, but below the surface as well. The rain seasons present serious challenges to pedestrians and motorists due to flooding because drainage systems are clogged by litter. This calls for a holistic approach and change of mindsets towards the disposal of litter.
Japan has some of the cleanest cities in the world because everyone is cultured towards ensuring that their environments are clean. In Japan children and adults do not throw litter everywhere but carry the litter in their bags and properly dispose of it in bins and authorities ensure that the bins are emptied regularly.
The provision of waste paper baskets say every five or 10 metres along all streets is vital in fighting litter because it prevents people from being tempted to dispose of litter everywhere.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter