BULAWAYO residents have been urged to change their mindset towards waste management and take greater responsibility for keeping the city clean, with authorities warning that civic pride was key to the city’s socio-economic development.
The call was made on Friday during the Bulawayo province commemorations of the zero-waste movement held as part of World Cleanup Day under the global theme, “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities.”
The event brought together the City of Bulawayo, government departments, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), corporates, churches, schools and members of the public.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Affairs minister Judith Ncube, mayor David Coltart, represented by councillor Dumisani Netha, and guest of honour Mongiwa Cele were among the speakers who called for a change in attitudes towards cleanliness.
Netha said keeping the city clean could not be left to the local authority alone.
“There is a need for a mindset change in keeping Bulawayo clean. We need everyone to take responsibility for the environment in which we live, work and conduct our businesses,” he said.
The speakers raised concern over what they described as a growing lack of civic pride, with some residents neglecting their responsibility to properly dispose of waste and maintain public spaces.
The commemorations encouraged residents to view waste as a potential economic resource through recycling and other waste-to-value initiatives.
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“Zero waste is not only about keeping our surroundings clean, but it can also be an empowerment tool. Waste that is properly separated and recycled can create opportunities and livelihoods,” the council said.
Running concurrently with the cleanup exercise was the Food Safety and Hygiene Expo, which focused on the importance of proper food handling and the need for consumers to buy food from regulated premises.
Participants were educated on the advantages of purchasing food from inspected and regulated outlets, while being warned about the potential health risks associated with buying consumables from unregulated sources.
The focus on food safety comes amid concerns over an increase in unregulated food outlets selling uninspected consumables to members of the public.
The expo sought to raise awareness among residents on the importance of food hygiene, proper handling, storage and purchasing food from approved premises.
Stakeholders said environmental cleanliness and food safety were closely linked, as poor waste disposal and improper food handling could expose communities to disease and other health risks.
The World Cleanup Day commemorations therefore sought to move the cleanliness campaign beyond periodic cleanup exercises, with residents encouraged to make responsible waste disposal, recycling and protection of public spaces part of their daily lives.
The organisers said a cleaner Bulawayo would contribute to improved public health, a better urban environment and the city's broader socio-economic development.
