Online Reporter
Nomalisa Gumpo and Patience Ndlovu
MAFAKELA Health and Environment Taskforce continues to inspire other community recycling organisations across the city by sharing income-generating projects, as demonstrated during the World Environment, Desertification and Drought Day commemorations.
The event, held at Chigumira Business Centre in Luveve—where a waste-sorting cage is located—was facilitated by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), which convened a discussion among various recycling groups.
Attendees included environment clubs from Magwegwe and Queens Park community-based organisations (CBOs), Mafakela Primary School, Khami district schools inspectors, residents, and environmental awareness activists.
Under the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution” for World Environment Day, communities shared innovative ways of recycling and reusing plastic.
Magwegwe CBO representative, Ms Sukoluhle Ndlovu, said their journey began as ordinary vendors until EMA introduced them to recycling.
“We decided to start making our own floor polish using fabric softener bottles. We sell it for US$2. We are now able to pay school fees for our children and buy stock for our market stalls through recycling. We’re currently in the process of registering our company, Gold and Shine,” she said.
Ms Ndlovu said that the Bulawayo City Council had acknowledged their efforts to keep the city clean, and they have since shared their floor polish production methods with other CBOs.
Queens Park CBO, which includes both youth and adult groups, faces its own challenges.
Ms Mariat Ncube said the community lacks a legal dumping site.
“People dump waste everywhere, so as a CBO we are always on the lookout and quick to respond. We collect litter and store it at our homes. We reuse materials to make items like mats, belts, and key holders from bottle rings. At the moment, we don’t have a cage to store waste, so we keep it in our homes,” she said.
The leader of Mafakela Health and Environment Taskforce CBO, Mr Chrispen Ngulube, said their initiative was driven by a previous water contamination crisis that claimed several lives in the community.
“We united as a community to tackle waste that was contaminating our water sources. We started by cleaning business centres and schools. With EMA’s support, we expanded into plastic recycling as a way to earn income while keeping the environment clean.
“Most of our members are women, and we hope they will be inspired by others to start their own projects. We also hope EMA will facilitate exchange visits so we can learn from other communities and explore more income-generating ideas.”
EMA’s Environmental Education and Publicity Officer, Miss Kayleen Dube, praised the Luveve community for its proactive approach to tackling litter.
“We always encourage communities to take ownership of environmental stewardship. The participation of these various communities shows that, as a nation, we can beat plastic pollution,” she said.
She said EMA has been conducting training sessions and awareness campaigns throughout Bulawayo.
“Luveve stands out as a community that embraced the message that waste can be turned into business. They have led by example, reducing illegal dumping sites and successfully hosting the World Environment Day and Desertification and Drought Day commemorations.
These are the kinds of initiatives we want to see replicated across Bulawayo, with residents leading “the way in environmental health stewardship to beat plastic pollution and restore our land,” she said.
EMA also revealed that it is working closely with schools and communities to educate the public on environmental matters.
The main objective of the commemorations was to raise awareness and call for action in protecting the environment. The event affirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on land restoration, combating desertification, and enhancing drought resilience.
—@DubeMatutu
