By Shalom Shawurwa
First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa has called for a nationwide shift in attitudes towards waste urging citizens to embrace sustainable practices that protect public health while creating jobs.
Speaking at the International Solid Waste Association Africa Regional Chapter Conference in Harare, she said the country must move away from careless dumping towards a circular economy in which waste is reused and recycled.
The conference, held under the theme “Enhancing Sustainable Waste Management Practices in Circular Economy” is the first of its kind to be hosted in Zimbabwe and drew delegates from across Africa as well as countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Eswatini and Ghana.
Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was now focusing on practical solutions rather than rhetoric when it comes to environmental protection.
“Waste should no longer be viewed as a burden, but as an opportunity,” she said, highlighting its potential to generate employment and reduce poverty, particularly among women and young people.
She toured exhibition stands showcasing products made from recycled materials including furniture, handbags and jewellery which she said demonstrated the economic value of innovation in waste management.
Zimbabwe produces close to two million tonnes of waste each year according to the First Lady who warned that the country’s traditional “take, make, dispose” model has contributed to pollution and strained urban waste systems.
She pointed to the government’s monthly National Clean-Up Day observed on the first Friday of each month as a key initiative aimed at promoting environmental responsibility but said more consistent action was needed.
“Cleanliness must become a daily practice,” she said.
She also linked improved waste management to better public health outcomes noting that effective systems could help reduce outbreaks of diseases such as cholera while strengthening infrastructure and promoting resource recovery.
Her remarks come as Zimbabwe seeks to position waste management as both an environmental priority and an economic opportunity with officials increasingly framing the sector as a driver of sustainable development.
