Murehwa (New Ziana) – First Lady Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa on Friday urged local authorities to put in place waste management plans and implement them to ensure clean, safe living environments for people.

In a speech read on her behalf in Murehwa by the Minister of Environment, Tourism, Climate and Hospitality Mangaliso Ndlovu, she said maintaining clean environments was important in many ways, including preventing disease.

She implored local authorities to implement adopted environmental plans strictly, for the good of the local communities, and the nation at large.

“All councils must have annual waste management plans in place and these should guide them when dealing with issues that have anything to do with the environment. Models that are cost-effective and reliable for sustainable waste management should also be established,” Amai Mnangagwa said.

“In partnership with industries, councils should also implement comprehensive and cost (effective) waste management programmes that protect public health and the environment and promote recycling, thus reducing the amount of waste disposed in 2022 in line with National Development Strategy 1,” she added.

Speaking at the same occasion, Mashonaland East Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Senator Aplonia Munzverengwi expressed hope that government will soon grant fast-expanding Murehwa town status.

“As a province, we are grateful that you have come to lead us in today’s clean-up programme in Murehwa. We are also hopeful that the center will soon be granted a town status since it’s expanding very fast and has a vibrant waste management taskforce committed to have Murehwa Centre consistently clean.”

President Mnangagwa proclaimed the first Friday of every month as a national clean-up campaign day.

New Ziana