Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe [email protected]
THE private sector is stepping up efforts to support Bulawayo’s urban renewal, with Fire Force Security calling for greater business participation in initiatives aimed at improving cleanliness, safety and the city’s attractiveness to tourists and investors.
The company partnered with the Makokoba Festival during the second edition last week and donated more than 60 litter bins for distribution across Bulawayo, including the central business district (CBD), Makokoba and Mzilikazi.
The initiative positions businesses as important partners in complementing efforts to improve the city’s public spaces and strengthen its appeal as a tourism and investment destination.
Fire Force Security director Ms Sithembiso Tshuma handed over the bins and urged residents and businesses to take collective responsibility for maintaining a clean city.
Ms Tshuma said the donation was part of the company’s broader commitment to supporting a cleaner and safer Bulawayo.
She said businesses had a role to play beyond their core commercial operations by contributing to initiatives that improve the communities in which they operate.
The intervention comes at a time when Bulawayo is seeking to leverage its industrial and commercial potential to stimulate economic activity and create employment.
Ms Tshuma said cleanliness and security were closely linked to the city’s ability to attract visitors and generate economic opportunities.
She said a clean and safe environment could encourage more tourists to visit Bulawayo, benefiting accommodation providers, restaurants, retailers, transport operators and other businesses across the tourism value chain.
She encouraged residents to complement private-sector initiatives by properly disposing of waste and taking responsibility for public spaces.
The partnership with the Makokoba Festival demonstrates how private companies can use corporate social investment and community partnerships to support wider urban development objectives.
Increased private-sector participation could complement public-sector efforts to improve the city’s infrastructure, cleanliness, security and overall business environment.
The city has significant potential to benefit from increased visitor traffic, particularly through its cultural heritage, events and proximity to major tourism attractions.
Ms Tshuma said businesses and communities needed to work together to create a city that was attractive to both residents and visitors.
