By Tadiwa Jery
Littering in Zimbabwe is a sore topic with more than 94% of Zimbabweans identifying litter as a major environmental problem. That is quite an impressive number. It would only make sense to see less litter in the streets. However, 2021 research shows an approximate of 1,65 million tons of waste annually. Moreso, the disposal of majority of it is not ideal. Citizens and city councils are responsible for their environments they live in. Keeping it clean is good to the eye and it helps minimise diseases.
A quick fix to Littering in Zimbabwe?
In 2015, a report made by a researcher identified a disturbing culture. In the major Zimbabwean cities, people had begun normalising piling garbage in open areas. Fast forward to 2023, this culture is now part of the society. Additionally, it seems the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) is not doing anything about it. No efforts made by the institution are proactively contributing towards eradicating littering in Zimbabwe.
President Mnangagwa’s launch of the national clean-up campaign in a bid to bring up the culture of being more responsible for our communities is highly commendable. This campaign to reduce littering in Zimbabwe enables communities to step up and clean their environment. Moreso, this is a clean-up that takes place every first Friday of each month. Locals who embrace this campaign commend how it helps keep communities and cities clean.
Additionally, these days, schools, companies and responsible citizens have to fill in the gap for the mess created. Citizens and local councils need to take part in keeping cities clean. Councils need to collect litter at least twice a week. It is important for citizens to have somewhere to dispose of their garbage in an environmentally friendly way. Moreso, it is also important that city councils dispose this garbage in the same manner and reduce littering in Zimbabwe as a whole.
