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Bulawayo mayor David Coltart on Monday called for stricter enforcement of by-laws to curb littering and maintenance of cleanliness in the city.
Speaking at a function to receive bins and cleaning equipment from local hardware company, Altcom Coltart emphasised the need for Bulawayo to emulate cleanliness standards in Singapore, where littering can attract a minimum penalty of $20US, saying the city should be the “Singapore of Africa”.
Bulawayo was once known for its cleanliness, and Coltart believes the city can regain its former glory if stakeholders work together and contribute towards waste management.
“Our dream is to become the Singapore of Africa. In Singapore, dropping a piece of gum can result in a minimum $20 fine, and the entire city is immaculate, as clean as your own kitchen. That should be our vision, and we must work relentlessly to achieve it. Keeping the city clean is not solely the responsibility of local authorities but a collective duty of all stakeholders,” he said.
“I urge everyone to follow Altcom’s example by donating bins and cleaning equipment. After all, we cannot fault residents for littering if proper facilities like waste bins are not provided,” he added.
Altcom handed over 50 bins and 30 brooms to support the city`s efforts, adding to the 213 bins that the city current has, and which it is targeting to reach 576.
Coltart also appealed to residents to properly sort their litter to facilitate recycling at Richmond Landfill, commonly known as Ngozi Mine.
“Let’s cultivate a culture of waste separation. We can label our bins—red for bottles, green for plastics, and blue for metals. This will make it easier for waste pickers to sort and recycle materials,” he said.
New Ziana
