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Herald Reporters
The National Environment Cleaning Day, along with other environmental management programmes which Government is implementing countrywide, will go a long way in averting health disasters and save lives, Vice President Kembo Mohadi said yesterday.

VP Mohadi made the remarks while addressing stakeholders in Beitbridge where he led the National Environment Cleaning Day at Pagomba Café in Ward 5.

He said the main objective of the National Environment Cleaning Day programme was to educate citizens against poor waste management and to inculcate a culture of cleanliness among the people.

“This Clean-up Day is the ninth since the declaration and inception of the clean-up programme by President of Zimbabwe, His Excellency, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, on 5 December 2018, running under the theme ‘Zero Tolerance to Litter: My Environment, My Pride,” said VP Mohadi.

“I would like to thank the nation for embracing this initiative as evidenced by the huge numbers participating in these monthly events since the launch of the programme.

“It is my hope that through this programme and many others that will be executed to complement it, tragedies like cholera outbreak that was witnessed in 2008 will be a thing of the past. Numerous lives were lost during the cholera outbreak of 2008, and Beitbridge was one of the areas that were hit hard by the pandemic.

“I, therefore, call upon every Zimbabwean to shun littering and dumping of waste in areas not set aside for that purpose. Let’s all work for a much cleaner environment as the year progresses, to prove that indeed through this programme, a clean, safe and healthy environment is possible.”

VP Mohadi said Government was concerned with the state of affairs in most local authorities and urged them to utilise waste recycling strategies.

In Harare, the First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is the environmental patron, led the National Environment Cleaning Day campaign at Kamunhu Shopping Centre in Mabvuku, where she called upon all law enforcement agents to intensify compliance monitoring against littering and dumping of waste at undesignated places.

“I want to remind all citizens of Zimbabwe that our laws provide for prosecution of those who indulge in poor waste management activities,” she said.

“To those with a tendency of littering, it is a punishable offence to litter, as well as to throw litter through windows of moving vehicles.

“The time has come for law enforcement agents in the country to be on the lookout for such environmental violations and bring perpetrators to book.”

Amai Mnangagwa said it was every citizen’s mandate to participate in the cleaning up of the environment, adding that the Zimbabwe is open for business policy should be supported by a hospitable environment.

“The ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ mantra must be supported by a hospitable, clean, safe and healthy environment to attract investors,” she said.

“This thrust provides an opportunity for reconstruction and transformation of the economy to one which is capable of creating maximum opportunities for people to live a healthy and dignified life, not only for this generation, but also for the generations to come.”

Zanu-PF Politburo member Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, who headlined the ruling party’s clean-up campaign at Market Square, said he was impressed with the progress made in the clean-up exercise that was initiated by President Mnangagwa.

“I am particularly glad to learn that all of you pride yourselves in taking part in this clean-up initiative which is a good sign that you all agree with your leadership that you all want clean homes, towns, cities and workplaces,” he said.

Dr Sekeramayi condemned littering and called for stiffer punishment against litter bugs.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Ezra Chadzamira led the Joint Operations Command (JOC) together with acting Gutu district administrator Ms Tafirei Chiedza and Environmental Management Agency (EMA) provincial manager Mr Milton Muusha to conduct a clean-up exercise at Gutu-Mpandawana town, amid calls for communities to embrace hygienic behaviour.

Cde Chadzamira said it was refreshing to note that more people were supporting the call to maintain their environments clean and that resonated well with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030.
Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Senator Monica Mavhunga led the clean-up in Centenary in Muzarabani district.

She said maintaining a clean environment was key to attracting investors and keeping diseases at bay.
The clean-up was attended by Chief Chiweshe, Muzarabani South MP Tapera Saizi, acting provincial development coordinator Mr Cosmas Chiringa and Muzarabani Rural District Council CEO Ms Ennie Gwachiwa.

In Mashonaland West, Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka led the clean-up in Karoi, where scores of residents and school children cleaned the Chikangwe Business Centre.
The programme started at the Karoi Town Council offices.

Minister Mliswa-Chikoka was joined by Government and council officials during the programme.
She challenged residents to support President Mnangagwa’s efforts in the clean-up campaign.

Minister Mliswa-Chikoka also challenged local authorities to increase efforts in managing all waste generated by residents and ratepayers, while urging EMA and other Government departments to augment recycling projects in the communities.

The clean-up campaign in Gweru was held in style, as teams participating in the National Youth and Paralympic Games took time to clean up various streets in the central business district.

They also cleaned various institutions of learning such as the Midlands State University, Gweru Polytechnic and Chaplin High School.