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Herald Reporter

Stung by the continued non-collection of garbage in Mbare, Harare, a group of eight people from the high density area have come together to spruce up the area.

For them, the motive is simply to keep a clean environment and ensure diseases such as cholera and typhoid are kept at bay.

Mbare is home to the biggest produce market in Zimbabwe, and consequently, thousands of people converge there to buy various products either for own consumption or re-sale. 

Push-carts are seen almost everywhere in Mbare, selling bananas, watermelons, peaches, green mealies and other farm produce that would be in season. 

While the sellers make money for themselves and are able to fend for their families, the consumers tend to throw garbage all over the place, creating an environmental disaster, especially at a time when the City of Harare is struggling to collect garbage for various reasons including mere ineptitude and alleged lack of fuel. 

Spokesperson for the eight Mbare residents, Mr Joseph Muchenje, told The Herald yesterday that it was refreshing and satisfying to look back at the place one has cleaned, knowing you have averted a health crisis. 

“The motive is that we are having challenges in getting the amenities for garbage collection, and roads are blocked by rubbish which is a health time bomb. 

“This has motivated us to clean for ourselves the community we live in,” said Mr Muchenje. 

The failure by Harare City Council to collect garbage in high-density suburbs has seen some enterprising citizens collecting garbage from households for anything from US$1 to US$2 per 50kg bag of garbage.  

Residents say they cannot afford to make double payments to the private collectors and to Harare City, although it rarely provides the service. Some youths go to rubbish bins and select plastic packaging, especially water and beverage bottles, and pick them up before selling to recycling companies. 

The Harare Residents Trust (HRT) has previously said refuse collection was almost dead in Harare. 

“Uncollected garbage continues to pile in open spaces, at shopping centres, street corners in other residential places and the Avenues area.