Prince Chese
WHILE many see discarded plastic and scrap metal as eyesore litter, local entrepreneurs at the Dulubadzimu Bus Terminus are turning “trash” into a booming micro-economy, aligning with new government policies aimed at inclusive growth and enterprise development.
The recycling hub at the bus rank has become a centre for innovation, where residents like Violet Muoni and Simbarashe Nyashanu are transforming waste into essential household goods, providing a blueprint for sustainable self-employment in the border town.
For Violet Muoni, the piles of empty plastic bottles discarded by travelers are not waste, but raw materials for her manufacturing business.
“I recycle these empty plastic bottles to make washing dishes and plates,” Muoni told Ziyah News Network. “I also sell the bottles to others who use them to manufacture bricks or to vendors who refill them with water for resale.”
By creating a value chain for plastic, Muoni is not only cleaning the environment but also tapping into the manufacturing sector at a grassroots level.
Nearby, Simbarashe Nyashanu has expanded his operations to include metalwork.He bridges the gap between waste management and heavy industry by repurposing vehicles bodies.
“Other people think it’s waste, but I use these materials to earn a living,” Nyashanu said, highlighting the shift toward a circular economy where nothing is truly discarded.
Emanuel Takutaku, the Ward 4 Councilor, said that the municipality supports these efforts.
” Through the Gender Links association, a new recycling plant is being developed near the Makakavhule cemetery. While the local government has already provided a motorcycle to assist with operations, the facility currently lacks electricity. Once power is connected, the industry will centralize these individual efforts into a structured, high-impact hub.”said Takutaku
The efforts of these Beitbridge recyclers come at a time when the government is intensifying its focus on labor rights and enterprise development.
The work being done at Dulubadzimu Rank is a practical example of the “Waste to Wealth” concept. By converting scrap into household items, these entrepreneurs reduce the need for expensive imports and provide low-cost alternatives for residents.