The all-female garbage gang

For a long time, garbage collection seemed liked a preserve of the male folk.

That was until four women braved their senses and took garbage collection head on. Today, residents of the various areas they work in marvel at them.

Last week, in the middle-density suburb of Sunningdale, the foursome became a spectacle as they went about their business.

The four women shared their stories with The Sunday Mail Extra in separate interviews.

“When I joined the garbage collectors in 2013, my wish was to experiment on how it feels to be doing such an ‘unladylike like’ job,” said 40-year-old Hazvineyi Mandekesi who was wearing a dirty yellow overall, with a blue top and a doek.

What started off as an experiment has become a hobby.

Together with Dollas Mugare (40), Maria Shava (31) and Class Two driver Makanyara Gandiwa (50), Hazvineyi is part of the all-female team of garbage collectors that have left many residents talking behind their back.

“I used to work for the council’s parks department where we looked after flowers in Harare Gardens with my other female workmates.

“However, in 2013 when an internal vacancy advertisement was flighted, I applied and got the nod,” she added.

As much as her husband doubted if she could do the job, she had so much faith in herself.

“During my first days, I suffered from severe backaches, maybe because I was not used to the job. With time I ended up not feeling anything. That alone made me realise that before I became a garbage collector, I was not doing much of physical exercising,” said Hazvineyi.

“Most women are afraid of trying these masculine jobs. Such fears influence lack of progress and development among women because such jobs are more paying than the ‘ladylike’ jobs,” said Maria.

For her, garbage collection has been a life-changer. Though she is still new in the business, the 31-year-old mother of two was a street cleaner from 2006 till February this year.

“Ever since I moved to this department, I am earning more money such that l can now take myself to school to develop myself. My children are happy with my job because they know that it brings more food on the table.”

When she has a morning shift at work, she goes for evening classes and when she has an afternoon shift, she goes for morning classes.

However, for Dollas, the job was initially constraining and almost cost her family.

“I also joined the department together with Hazvinei in 2013 and during the first three months, it was a bit of a challenge,” said Dollas.

“When I did my morning shifts I would wake up around 4:30 am to prepare food for my children because morning shift starts at 6am. Sometimes when I came from work I would be so tired that I would not have time to chat with my three boys.

“My husband on the other hand was always complaining on how I was not giving him attention any more as I was always tired.”

Whilst Hazvinei, Dollas and Maria are busy at the back of the truck, at the controls will be none other than Makanyara, one of the four female drivers employed by the city council to drive garbage trucks.

Makanyara started off as a street cleaner in Westgate back in 1996. Three years after, she was moved to join other street cleaners in central Harare.

“In 2009, I was promoted to be a supervisor for other street cleaners. The following year, I was further promoted to be a foreman for the Sunningdale dump site,” she explained.

“My job there was to keep record of garbage loads that were brought to Kevin Port waste management site. At the same time, several meetings were being held on empowering women and our Town Clerk was always encouraging us to take Class Two driver’s licences.

“Initially, I didn’t have the confidence and I was actually discouraging myself. Then one day I woke up determined that I could do it and gave it a try.”

Makanyara got her Class Two driver’s licence in 2010 but was also re-tested by the city council before she was deployed.

Like any engagement, the early days were not rosy, and she used to have problems driving around the Fourth Street bus terminus.

“I had problems (maneouvering) around Fourth Street bus terminus as the banana skins thrown around the terminus made it difficult to drive in and around the terminus,” she said.

However, with time she got used to it.

Among the theatrics that are performed by garbage collectors are stunts that include jumping on and off a moving heavy vehicle, balancing on a moving truck using one hand and one leg leaving the other leg and arm dangling in the air.

So next time you see such theatrics being performed by your gate, take a closer look, it might be these four women going about the daily duties that they have fallen in love with.