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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE business community should come up with waste management initiatives that complement the efforts of local authorities aimed at cutting back on levels of environmental pollution, Zanu-PF Second Secretary, Cde Kembo Mohadi, has said.
Environmental pollution is the unwarranted disposal of mass or energy into earth’s natural resource pool such as water, land, or air that results in long or short-term detriment to the atmosphere and its ecological health that negatively impacts people and animals.
President Mnangagwa declared the first Friday of each calendar month as a national clean-up day.
The national clean-up exercise is held in the spirit of creating a clean, safe and healthy environment.
It is the duty of every individual across the country to clean their surrounding areas be it places of work, education, religion, recreational and residential premises to manage waste management in the country.
Addressing people who included the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Larry Mavima and Zanu-PF Central Committee member Engineer Daniel Mackenzie Ncube who also attended the provincial clean-up held at Maboleni Business Centre in Lower Gweru, Cde Mohadi said the clean-up drive was contributing immensely towards the achievement of Vision 2030.
“I encourage the business community and the private sector to come up with waste management initiatives that complement the efforts of local authorities such as Vungu Rural District Council aimed at cutting back on levels of environmental pollution through waste management,” he said.
“More so, there should be waste management committees in each business centre that will oversee all issues pertaining to waste management. Every shop owner has to make it a point that they have litter receptacles in their shops that customers can use.”
Cde Mohadi said the Government prioritises inclusivity by bringing everyone on board on issues to do with solid waste management adding that no one or place will be left behind.
“We are working towards entrenching a circular economy when it comes to waste management. This means that all valuable materials should be recovered and repurposed,” he said.
Cde Mohadi said a community-based organisation made up of five people in Lower Gweru who are collecting waste from the business centre and selling them to recycling companies was already in action.
This, he said, does not only minimise the amount of waste that finds its way to the dump site, but it also contributes to livelihood improvement. Waste recycling is one of the priority areas in the National Development Strategy (NDS1) hence it has to be taken seriously, said Cde Mohadi.
“The local authority (Vungu RDC) has to ensure that it installs cages in this business centre as a way of promoting waste separation at source. More so, more players have to come in and work together with the local authority on issues to do with waste management,” he said.
“As a nation, we are working towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030, but that cannot be achieved in an unclean environment.”
Cde Mohadi said it was saddening to note that there are some irresponsible individuals that have a habit of dumping diapers in undesignated areas.
“More so, we are slowly approaching the festive season and most of us will be traveling to different destinations. Let us desist from throwing litter through the windows of moving vehicles as this makes our highways unsightly,” he said.
“Those who are in the transport business should ensure that their vehicles have bins for the convenience of the public.”
Cde Mohadi encouraged Vungu RDC to capacitate community members on sustainable environmental management adding that there should be an active environmental sub-committee in each and every ward.
“This will help in the identification of environmental problems at the grassroots level and guide the formulation of action plans. The local authority should ensure that it has a ‘local environmental action plan’ which highlights how environmental issues are going to be managed,” he said.
Cde Mohadi said most business centres and growth points are expanding hence there should be landfill sites to promote sustainable waste management.
“Allow me to encourage each and every one of us to ensure that they play an active role in keeping our environment clean,” he added.
“There should be a waste disposal pit in each and every homestead. Let us also educate our children on waste management and the protection of the environment. A better Zimbabwe begins with us.”
Online Reporter