KADOMA – IN the past, waste and recycling have always been seen as work of
unfocused people, but with the best knowledge many have realised that waste is
money.
This has seen a lot of people wanting to gain knowledge on how to make a living
through waste management as they have attended short courses, which have seen
them graduatng and attaining certificates.
Last week in Kadoma, more than 800 people graduated under “Recycling as a
Business Graduation” programme, making Mashonaland West the province with the
highest number of graduates.
Never Gariromo from Karoi, who has been into waste management for some time,
encouraged the new members, and also ordinary people, that they can survive with
recycling and it is not work of low esteemed people, and also that it keeps the
country always clean.
“Waste has always been associated with poverty and hurombe, but let me tell you
this, waste is not marara, chiwanikwa equivalent to gold and is here to stay because
as long we have life there will always be waste.
“We are happy that our numbers are growing as more people are joining the
industry. It is up to us to help keep our country clean and we have an advantage that
the more we collect waste, the more money we make and it also helps in the
development of the country and so many products will be produced from these waste
like fertiliser manufacturing. So, let us encourage each other to venture into this
business,” said Gariromo
One of the graduates, who was the oldest at 60 years, Edith Kalamu, said she was
happy she got her certificate and encouraged young women to also attain theirs and
push for cleaner environments.
“Look at my age, I am the oldest here, but I took my time to learn about waste
management, where the lessons we had were conducted by EMA. It is an
achievement I have made, which I am proud of. I will also teach my grandchildren so
that they will know that waste has money and also not to throw it everywhere.
“We want to thank this initiative led by Dr Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa as she is making
sure that no one is left behind,” she said.
The Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry,
Barbra Rwodzi, who was representing the guest of honour, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa,
said waste management had deteriorated for the past two decades, creating a health
hazard to communities.
The Government then decided to intervene and prioritised waste recycling as a
flagship in the economic blue print, NDS1.
“Taking the recycling route does not only reduce the volume of material sent to
landfills, but also reduces the cost of waste management and amount of energy used
to manufacture new products and raw materials. This subsequently saves the
environment from degradation.
“To convert this into action, my office worked with Ministry of Environment through
the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to roll out training programmes to
capacitate grassroots communities on the best practices in the management of
waste, including reuse, recovery and recycling as a business. Stop politicising some
things, but rather work together to build our country,” she explained.
Mashonaland West Minister of State fort Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary
Mliswa-Chikoka, represented by Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs, Josphat
Jaji, thanked Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa as the province now has 32 community based
organisations (CBOs) operating.
“Ungano yataita nhasi ichavandudza nhoroondo yemarara. Tanga taita dambudziko
guru nyanye nekuraswa marara. Nharaunda dzanga dzazara tsvina. Parizvino
tinotenda nekuti kuburikidza nematrainings amakatanga Amai tave ne 32 Community
Based Organisations dzave kuita hondo nemarara. Mhuri dziri kutorarama vana
vachiendeswa kuchikoro. That is empowerment,” she said
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