First Lady calls for proper waste management
FIRST LADY Auxillia Mnangagwa has called on local authorities across the country to put in place strategies that ensure proper waste management practices.
She made the call in a speech read on her behalf by Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu during the national clean-up exercise at Murehwa Centre on Friday.
“I would like to thank you all for embracing the national clean-up programme. Let me remind all citizens that the first Friday of each month remains a national clean-up day as per the declaration of the programme and I urge all sectors to put in place strategies for sustaining this programme through adopting and adapting best waste management practices,” said Amai Mnangagwa.
“Some strategies you can adopt to improve waste management include waste sorting at source, formation of waste management committees in various industrial clusters and shopping centres, appointment of the clean-up programme focal persons by all ministries, departments and agencies. Institutions and businesses can also adopt zones for care and maintenance.
“Above all, local authorities need to rethink their waste management strategies and establish models that are cost effective, efficient and sustainable, they must be proactive in addressing waste management challenges in their areas of jurisdiction.”
Amai Mnangagwa said as the nation gradually moves from the linear economy to a more sustainable circular economy, focus should be on the separation of waste at source and use of waste transfer stations as key enablers.
She added that recycling was the best cornerstone of a circular economy and should therefore be promoted in all the rural and urban set-ups in line with the National Development Strategy 1.
“The circular economy calls us all to take waste as a resource and purpose it through recycling, remaking, reusing, re-manufacturing and come up with other useful products. In the process we will be cleaning the environment and widening livelihood options through the creation of green jobs,” she said.
Amai Mnangagwa said considerable investment had been made in the recycling sector with a focus on various waste streams such as plastic, paper and scrap metal.
“This is in sync with the National Development Strategy 1 under the Environmental Protection, Climate Resilience and Natural Resources Management Sector.
“I therefore urge local authorities to play a principal role in the agenda by allocating space for recycling and supporting the upcoming recyclers to establish and grow.
“Local authorities should also establish public private partnerships with progressive corporates to ensure waste management challenges are holistically and sustainably dealt with.
“Our national circumstances are dynamically changing owing to the rise in urbanisation, hence urban planning must be adjusted in line with emerging issues which include incorporating proper waste management infrastructure such as waste transfer stations, recycling centres and engineered landfills.
“It is also against this background that all local authorities and other waste generators should always have their annual waste management plans in place ready for implementation. On the other hand, all business premises must have adequate bins for waste disposal in a responsible manner,” said the First Lady.
She commended Murehwa Rural District Council for being among the first local authorities to have a lined landfill in line with the sustainable waste management trajectory of the country.
“I applaud the good work and relationship between the local authority and the private sector as indicated by the vibrant waste management taskforce through public private partnership responsible for clean-up programmes.”
Amai Mnangagwa reminded the nation that littering should be avoided at all costs as it is an offence.
“I want to remind all citizens of this beautiful country that littering and dumping are prosecutable offences that should be avoided at all costs.
“EMA together with law enforcement agencies have now been instructed to intensify monitoring to ensure there are enough bins in all public places such as business centres, streets, roads, lay-bys and public transport vehicles.
“I have been advised by the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry that such an intensive monitoring exercise is already underway, coupled with both awareness raising as well as prosecution of offenders.
“On that note, I encourage everyone to be environmental stewards within their neighbourhoods and report to law enforcement agencies anyone found throwing litter through vehicle windows, dumping waste and littering, among other offences,” she said.
The clean-up programme was attended by various Government departments in Mashonaland East province, Zanu PF provincial members as well as the business sector in Murehwa.