BULAWAYO City Council (BCC) has received a major boost in its cleanliness campaign following a donation of 60 refuse bins worth US$6 900 from a city company, Masters Paint and Hardware.
The donation was officially handed over at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo during a ceremony attended by city officials, business representatives and residents.
The local authority’s cleansing superintendent Nkanyiso Ndlovu said the consignment comprised 30 units of 120-litre bins, each retailing at US$75, and 30 units of another size.
“This initiative has been launched to restore the city of Bulawayo, aiming to bring it back to its former glory,” Ndlovu said.
He said the programme was motivated by a strong desire to rejuvenate the city and instil community pride.
Masters Paint and Hardware manager Nkosi Mafu expressed gratitude for the council’s support and the community’s acceptance of the initiative.
He said the donation reflected the willingness of both local businesses and foreign citizens to contribute to the city’s sustainable development.
“This donation is not just about bins, it is a collaborative step we are taking with partners and residents towards Bulawayo’s overall growth,” said Mafu, affirming the company’s long term commitment to civic projects.
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Mayor David Coltart said the gesture was the largest donation the city had received in recent years.
He emphasised the importance of strong partnerships between local authorities and businesses in enhancing service delivery.
“I am immensely delighted and grateful for this donation by Masters as it is highly appreciated and acknowledged,” Coltart said.
The mayor noted that the company had already piloted a successful resident-led waste management project in Khumalo suburb, which the city hopes to replicate in other areas.
He warned that Bulawayo still faces a serious bin deficit, with numbers dropping from 500 to 397, and now standing at about 330 even after the donation.
Coltart urged other companies, particularly in the hardware sector, to follow Masters’ example.
He also encouraged the donor to make its logo more prominent on the bins, calling it a “win-win” for both marketing and civic pride.
"Bulawayo aims to become the cleanest city in Zimbabwe, southern Africa, and eventually the continent, aspiring to surpass Kigali’s reputation,” Coltart said.
He said cleanliness is not only vital for public health but also central to boosting tourism and reimagining the city’s economy.
