The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has intensified its anti-litter campaign in Harare, prosecuting 362 offenders since July and committing to maintain the city’s cleanliness beyond the upcoming Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit.
Zimbabwe is set to host the SADC summit in Mt Hampden, Harare, tomorrow, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa will assume the chairmanship of the regional body. In preparation for the high-profile event, EMA has taken significant measures to ensure the city is pristine.
During a recent clean-up campaign in Harare, EMA’s Harare provincial manager, Leo Mutungamiri, outlined the agency’s efforts. “We are ready in practice for the SADC summit. We have implemented anti-litter strategies, including placing bins at all intersections in the central business district (CBD) and along major streets,” he stated.
Mutungamiri emphasized the agency’s commitment to maintaining cleanliness from the airport to the New Parliament Building, as well as key areas along Old Mazowe Road and Bulawayo Road. EMA has collaborated with various stakeholders and engaged volunteers to divide the city into ten quadrants for effective litter management, with refuse being transported to the Pomona dumpsite.
The anti-litter campaign involves strict enforcement of littering laws, with offenders facing fines ranging from USD 30 to USD 100, depending on the severity of the offense. Mutungamiri assured that these measures will continue beyond the summit, reflecting EMA’s commitment to a zero-tolerance stance on littering.
In addition to enforcement, the campaign promotes recycling and waste separation. Mutungamiri encouraged residents to adopt the three Rs: reduce, recycle, and reuse. He advised using color-coded bins for different types of waste—red for glass, green for plastics, blue for cans, and black for general waste.
The initiative aims to foster a culture of cleanliness and environmental responsibility among Harare’s residents, ensuring that the city remains clean and welcoming long after the SADC summit concludes.
In other news – Police Officer assaulted by husband over infidelity claims
Constable Thembekile Ndebele, an officer at Bulawayo Central Police Station, was reportedly assaulted by her husband, George Muchineripi, following accusations of infidelity. The incident took place at their home in Nkulumane suburb.
According to reports, Muchineripi confronted Ndebele with claims that she was involved in an extramarital affair, allegedly based on information from a family member. In a fit of anger, Muchineripi reportedly punched Ndebele in the head and face, causing her to bleed from her lower lip. Read More
