‘Own your doorstep campaign to restore city’s former glory’

Gloria Muruva and Rumbidzai Mushonga

THE “own your doorstep” campaign must go beyond the SADC summit next month and become part of the normal culture, Harare Metropolitan Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Charles Tawengwa said yesterday.

The campaign is an initiative by Government in partnership with stakeholders such as businesses, factories and others to adopt pavements and greening initiatives outside their premises to upgrade the appearance of the city and help keep it clean.

Speaking during the launch, Minister Tawengwa said it is always part of Zimbabwe’s culture to prepare for visitors through excellent hospitality but this initial boost to the city through the campaign was not a once-off.

“Some are saying this is done because of the upcoming SADC summit, and this is not correct. We have to keep our city clean because it is ours; hence we have to look after our environment .

“But we also have to know that whenever we have visitors, be it at our homes, there is no way one would not put his or her place in order. That is our culture,” he said.

“As Zimbabweans, we are well known globally as a friendly hospitable people and in Brand Zimbabwe, do not neglect your own province, the Harare Metropolitan Province. We have to market it hence we have to beautify our Harare”.

Minister Tawengwa urged all residents to get involved in the campaign.

“By way of Public Private Partnerships and corporate social responsibility, we are inviting businesses, industry, commerce and individuals to adopt street pavements, cleaning and greening initiatives as we instil pride in our capital city ‘the pulse of the nation’.

“By taking ownership of the frontal areas of our business premises, the business community will help to manage litter, beautify and maintain the city scape creatively, thereby enhancing the city’s image and lightening the service delivery burden on service providers.”

Minister Tawengwa said the migration of business and commerce from the city centre to new and environmentally friendly areas such as Sam Levy’s Village, Madokero and Highland Park just to mention a few, showed the need to beautify the city centre.

There was a need, therefore, to work hard to improve the ambience of the city centre and neighbourhoods.

Several initiatives have been set in motion since the launch of the National Clean Up campaign in 2018 by the President, that is held every first Friday of the month. Last year the President promulgated SI 140 of 2023 in response to the garbage problem.

Thereafter, came Operation Chenesa 1 in January 2024 followed by Chenesa 2 launched in June. All these efforts were meant to clean the environment where people do their business and reside.