BULAWAYO City Council in partnership with the business community, civil society organisations and the government, launched the Bulawayo Solid Waste Improvement Platform (B-SWIP) on Saturday at the Large City Hall car park.
PRIVILEGE SHOKO OWN CORRESPONDENT
The launch, which coincided with a clean-up campaign, was based on the theme “My city, my pride, keep Bulawayo clean.”
Speaking at the ceremony, B-SWIP chairperson Sarah Nyathi said the initiative, comprising health organisations and churches, had been formed to restore the city to its former glory of being the cleanest in Zimbabwe.
“Cleanliness starts in the mind,” she said.
“B-SWIP cannot do it alone but we need you to help us clean the city.” Nyathi said various campaigns will be conducted to make the platform a success.
“Educational and massive media campaigns will be conducted and there will be an increase in the number of bins so as to make sure that Bulawayo is clean, ” she said.
Nyathi said there would be street monitors and urged citizens to comply with their orders.
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Bulawayo deputy mayor Gift Banda lamented how both the young and the old shamelessly littered the city’s streets.
“It is known that Bulawayo was renowned for its cleanliness until the late 1990s,” he said.
“Everyone was conscious of keeping the environment clean, but nowadays it is sad to see the young and the old shamelessly littering our streets.”
Banda lashed out at residents and businesses for abandoning environment consciousness by being comfortable with seeing products littering the streets in front of their premises.
“We are all encouraged to change our attitudes towards the environment,” he said.
Banda expressed gratitude to residents and organisations which attended the clean-up campaign.
“It is, however, refreshing to see all of you who came today as this shows that there are some of us who still care about the cleanliness of our city.”
Banda said the clean-up campaign was in line with the preparations for Region 5 Under-20 youth games.
“As you are all aware, the city has been honoured with hosting the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 youth games.
It is our responsibility to ensure visitors are greeted by a clean city, hence the clean-up,” he said.
“This is the first of a series of clean-up campaigns, which shall cascade throughout the city.
“I hope you will take this event as a process meant to cultivate environmental stewardship.”
Edgars, Hawkflight, Red Cross, Bulawayo Residents’ Association, Harvest House International and Restoration of Hope, among other organisations, participated in the clean-up campaign.