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Business Reporter

The City of Harare and Clean City Private Limited yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will allow the two parties to collaborate in service delivery to Harare residents.

Areas of collaboration under the MoU include refuse collection, dump-sites clearance, repair and maintenance of City of Harare refuse trucks along with construction and management of waste facilities in areas identified by both parties.

The two entities will also embark on joint community health initiatives, including waste management awareness campaigns, with the objective of reducing waste and water borne diseases – including cholera and typhoid – that have plagued the city in the recent past.

The tie-up between the two parties represents a Public Private Partnership (PPP). PPPs are seen among development experts as key in delivering sustainable solutions to the many challenges bedevilling the local authorities and national economies at large.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held at the Town House in the capital, Clean City Africa CEO Lovemore Nyatsine, said waste management had become an area of major public health and environmental concern, with city residents battling the scourge of mounting refuse, poor sanitation, lack of clean water and mushrooming garbage dumps, among other health hazards.

“At Clean City we believe that addressing such challenges in our society requires a collaborative approach and effort from all of us – the private sector, local governments (the city council), residents and everyone – because at the end of the day, we are all affected by the adverse health and environmental effects of uncollected refuse and the breakdown of infrastructure, which give rise to diseases and other perils,” said Mr Nyatsine.

He said although many residential areas in Harare continued to experience heaps of uncollected refuse and illegal dumps, there was need to come up with new models and fresh approaches to deal with how communities can enjoy clean and safe environments.

“Together, we can create clean neighbourhoods, health communities, clean streets and public areas  but we need bold ideas and fresh thinking to tackle these issues,” said Mr Nyatsine.

Clean City has in the past played a pivotal role in fighting the outbreak of cholera and in mobilising communities to keep their environments clean.

Mr Nyatsine lauded the Mayor of Harare, Clr Herbert Gomba for his leadership in working to bring the partnership to life.

He also commended Harare City Councillors for their commitment to see effective service delivery restored to the city through their support of the partnership.

Clr Gomba hailed the partnership between Clean City and Harare City as an answer to residents’ outcry over the menace of litter and refuse, erratic baggage disposal and the attendant risk of disease outbreaks in the city.

“This partnership will contribute to a clean and healthy city for our residents and it will also help create employment and grow the economy of the city,” said the Mayor.

He thanked the Econet group and Cassava Smartech (the parent company of Clean City) for being proactive in offering sustainable service and solutions to the City of Harare.

He committed to work tirelessly with any willing corporate partners to restore Harare’s Sunshine City status.

Clean City has already started collecting refuse in the greater part of Harare’s northern and eastern suburbs as well as parts of the southern suburbs, covering more than 280 000 households.

The company has also decommissioned more than 300 dump-sites.

Clean City was launched last year with the goal of providing sustainable, technology-driven waste management services in urban areas in partnership with local authorities and other private players.

It has more recently expanded into Clean Water delivery services, among other services.

It uses a mobile platform to connect households and workplaces with private waste collection firms, using the Vaya Africa App.