By Rex Mphisa
THE Municipality of Beitbridge is handling approximately 245 tons of litter per week as the border town grapples to cope with refuse generated by its transient status as Zimbabwe and the region’s busiest border post.
At its peak the town handles up to 30 000 travelers a day but ordinarily deals with 9 000 people in transit who contribute to litter generation over and above its 62 000 residents, Beitbridge Town Clerk Loud Ramakgapola has said.
“We have a lot of pressure on the cleanliness of the town and as a result we have employed close to 90 employees for the purposes of cleaning the highway from Masvingo turn off to the border round about as well as then rank area,” said Ramakgapola.
He made the remarks during the occassion of the monthly clean-up campaign when close to a thousand Cross-Border Traders For Economic Development (ED) joined a beitbridge residents for the June clean up date.
“Beit Bridge Municipality has total projected population of 62 000 and a migrant population of thousands who come to this town. We have a potential of close to 15000 stands and close to 9000 properties,” he said.
“In a week collect 245 tonnes through our refuse truck. Our collection is not yet 100% and as such 245 tonnes a week is below what potentially is the amount of litter in the town,” he said.
Beitbridge had also initiated an annual marathon for the sole purpose to instil a purpose of cleanliness and in 2026 the event turned 11years.
“We religiously participate in the National Clean Ups and on average we get 150 participants which number is very low compared to our population and households. We request you to encourage more people to participate and once there is more participation our town will be much cleaner,” he said to the cross border traders who came from all over Zimbabwe.
He specifically mentioned the Manicaland Chapter of the Zanu PF affiliates who came in close to five buses for the clean up campaign.
“We also want to thank government departments among them ZESA, ZRP, Youth Ministry, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Zimborders, ZIMRA, ZINARA, National Housing for always being in the clean up campaigns. We also appreciate schools around town who have religiously been part,” he said.
Earlier Beitbridge District coordinator Sikhangezile Mafu welcomed the participants of the event wrapped by an adress by Matabeleland South Minister for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe.
“We appreciate that you have come in such large numbers to help us clean our spaces,” said Mafu.
She asked participants and Beitbridge residents to confront the drugs and substance abuse problem vigilantly.
“We are the busiest border but we are vulnerable and appeal to you help us fight the drugs and substance abuse and trafficking. We must conscientise each other about this,” said Mafu who also heads the district civil protection unit.
Zimbabwe’s national clean-up campaigns are a government-led initiative championed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on December 5, 2018, designating the first Friday of every month as a National Clean-Up Day.
The program aims to curb illegal dumping, improve public health, and drive the nation towards upper-middle-income status by 2030.