GOVERNMENT says it will issue an order under a statutory instrument (SI) to compel all local authorities and agencies to carry out the national clean-up campaign launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2018.
In a post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, Information minister Jenfan Muswere said: “Cabinet highlights that the deplorable state of cleanliness across the country, particularly in urban areas is due to local authorities’ ineptitude and negligence in collecting and managing solid waste disposal.
“On its part, central government has made interventions to redress the situation, including introduction of the national clean-up campaign in 2018 and declaration of a state of disaster in Harare Metropolitan province in 2023. An emergency solid waste management programme is currently being implemented under the state of disaster declaration.”
The national clean-up campaign is held on the first Friday of each month.
“That funds collected by local authorities from residents for waste management will be ring-fenced in order to ensure that the authorities do not divert the funds to other uses, with the Environmental Management Agency supervising the usage of the funds;
“Deterrent fines for public littering will be introduced and enforced, and repeat offenders charged with no option of a fine but given mandatory community service,” Muswere said.
Meanwhile, government has also activated strategic command centres throughout the country to actively deal with “unsavoury practices” within the education sector.
“Such practices include but are not limited to chasing away pupils for nonpayment of fees, conducting paid-for extra-lessons, discrimination and corruption in enrolment, use of corporal punishment, charging of unapproved fees and levies amongst other malpractices,” Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said in a statement last night.
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“Parents, guardians, teachers and pupils are advised to make use of the command centre focal persons so that every school-going child has access to quality, relevant, equitable and wholesome primary and secondary education.”
