Yibutse adopts Mbabane River, tributaries
MBABANE – Yibutse Green !ction, a non-profit environmental organisation, has adopted the Mbabane River and its tributaries, which cut through the capital city.
The organisation has done so as part of a green project that will see volunteers and residents cleaning up and restoring the 5.5 kilometre waterways, starting in March 2022.
Dubbed ‘Adopt-Mbabane-River-Project,’ the activity has set its sights on restoring the river’s natural state; cleaning it up, removing alien plants and vegetation, and replacing them with indigenous plants and trees. The volunteers and residents will also remove plastics and other forms of waste and pollutants along the river.
Chapters
Musa Ndlangamandla, the Founder and Executive Director of Yibutse Green !ction Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), also announced that the organisation was going national in 2022, and would establish chapters in various parts of the country. The Mbabane River and its tributaries cut through the city’s suburbs, industrial areas, central business district (CBD) and eventually empties itself into the Lusushwana River. It contributes to the water supply of many downstream communities in Mbabane.
The project will be funded by donors and private sector entities.
Meanwhile, Gideon Mhlongo, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Municipal Council of Mbabane, has written to Yibutse, giving them access to the river and pledging technical and other support for the project.
“The council supports the objectives to improve the cleanliness and the general condition of the environment of the Mbabane River.
“Accordingly, the council grants you access to the length and breadth of this river. We will also provide technical and related support as necessary,” Mhlongo said.
On top of that, Richard Mamba, the President of the recently-established Institute of Waste Management Eswatini (IWME), also wrote to Yibutse in support of theAdopt-Mbabane-River Project. Mamba also pledged IWME’s technical assistance, advice, guidance, and support to the project, to ensure it fulfills its mandate.
Yibutse is the siSwati word for ‘pick it up.’ Yibutse Green !ction is a notfor-profit green movement which focuses on community involvement in reclaiming public spaces through the proper disposal of face masks, gloves, and other COVID-19 related waste that negatively impacts the environment. The movement also extends to solutions for proper disposal of sanitary towels, child and adult diapers and other single-use plastic waste. The NPO was founded on May 11, 2021 by Public Health Inspector, Zodwa Madolo, and her husband veteran journalist and green activist Musa Ndlangamandla.
Restoration
“While restoration of the Mbabane River to its ‘natural’ state may not be possible in its entirety, given the construction and commercial developments in the river’s path, working with the private sector, households and communities, Yibutse can restore it to its position as a valuable asset for the city and the country,” said Ndlangamandla. The Mbabane River has been affected by wanton littering, the invasion of alien plant species, and illegal activity such that it has lost its status of being a natural river system,” said Ndlangamandla.
In another matter, Motsa announced that Yibutse Green !ction is in the process of opening up chapters across the country, to spread the seeds of environmental stewardship.
Motsa said on Thursday January 27, 2022, they would be unveiling the Yibutse Ezulwini/Lobamba Chapter.
Motsa added that on the day, the non-profit organisation and its volunteers will clean up the area from Legends Backpacker Lodge in Ezulwini, pass Mantenga Falls and to Lobamba Village.
She added that the Ludzeludze, Kwaluseni, Ngwane Park, and Shiselweni chapters were also at an advanced stage of being formed.