If you visit the Africa Unity Square Park or the Harare Gardens today, you will see what I am talking about. And who dares blame us? This is the one time that many of us are finally able to get away from our usually hectic schedules to relax, enjoy life and be thankful for having come this far. But I shudder to think of the state of the environment when the holidaying is over, especially if we continue to exhibit the uncaring litterbug tendencies that highly characterised 2011.
Although 2011 proved to be the year that most environmentalists came alive and through their different ventures, forced people’s attention to the dire state of our environment, many Zimbabweans remain unmoved, or are they just ignorant of the extent of our real dependency on the environment and the fact that we need it more than it needs us?
Of the many areas of environmental concern identified in the country, littering is the one area that needs immediate attention.
Although we still have a long way to go to make things right, it is not too late and I hope all those that have been making efforts to clean up will not tire. But they cannot do it alone! Every responsible individual needs to start playing their part; by not littering, cleaning their surroundings and looking for better waste management methods. We all need to learn to shy away from dirtiness.
It would really help if the police were on high alert for litter offenders, and impose appropriately deterrent fines on those caught on the wrong side of the law. People just have to realise that littering is a finable offence. Lenience with offenders has not gotten us anywhere! The recent proposition by the Harare City Council to impose hefty fines on litter bugs is highly commendable
For their part, the service providers will hopefully awaken from their deep slumber and remember what ratepayers are paying the refuse fee for.Please remember that besides making our environment horrible, litter is a health hazard. As nobody wants constant trips to the doctor, it makes sense for everyone to play their part in cleaning up.
Diseases like cholera and typhoid remain very much a reality in the country.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Do not carelessly throw around litter and expect someone else to come along and clean after you as in most cases the litter would be left lying around for a long time to come, causing unprecedented harm. Do not forget that our local councils are incapacitated.
So as we start 2012, let us all commit to do away with the retrogressive attitude that has seen us messing up where others would have cleaned up. It is more like the toilet rule, you cannot honestly leave it in a mess but expect to come back again and find it clean.
May we not give up until we have returned this nation to its former glory and make it an attractive destination for visitors from all over the world once again! Happy New Year and wish you all a prosperous litter-free 2012!
Litter bugs trash clean-up efforts
In spite of numerous vigorous clean-up initiatives carried out throughout 2011, one would be forgiven for thinking absolutely no effort has been made, especially right here in the capital city, Harare, where the clean-up campaign was especially in full swing.
The litter gives the country an atmosphere of decadence and it becomes very hard to see the positive that is going on when the environment is so litter-infested.
So as we welcome 2012, let us put into consideration the environment we will have to live in.
Remember that the mess we make even during this time of much jubilation will haunt us in the New Year. I do not know about you, but it dampens my spirit starting 2012 in such a disgustingly dirty environment, especially when many people have spent the whole of 2011 tirelessly working to make the country clean. Shame on you litter bugs!
