By Fanuel Chinowaita
MUTARE – Telecommunications company NetOne yesterday led the NetOne Mega National Clean-Up campaign in Mutare, joining government officials and other stakeholders in the national programme held on the first Friday of every month.
The clean-up initiative forms part of the government’s monthly environmental programme launched following a call by Emmerson Mnangagwa for citizens, companies and institutions across Zimbabwe to participate in environmental clean-up activities aimed at improving sanitation and public health.
Speaking during the exercise, NetOne Public Relations Manager Earnest Magadzire said the NetOne Mega National Clean-Up is part of a national effort to ensure that working environments remain clean
“This is a call by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, that every first Friday of the month all corporates and citizens gather to clean the areas they work in,” said Magadzire.
He said the programme was not only taking place in Mutare but across the country.
“This clean-up is not only happening here in Mutare but everywhere in Zimbabwe, including in Mashonaland East Province where we are also encouraging citizens to take control in ensuring that areas they work in are clean,” he said.
Magadzire expressed satisfaction with the turnout of participants.
“We are very happy with the turnout of the people. People are actually putting much consideration and importance to these clean-up initiatives,” he said.
He added that NetOne will continue supporting the programme beyond the current campaign.
“We are delighted as NetOne to be part of this magnificent initiative. We are not going to end here; next month in April on the first Friday we will also conduct another clean-up campaign. This is not just a day but a symbol that this should be done every day so that we work in clean environments,” said Magadzire.
The company partnered with several stakeholders including the Environmental Management Agency, the District Development Coordinator’s office, vendors, the Zimbabwe Republic Police and Mutare City Council.
Magadzire said the collaboration was also aligned with Zimbabwe’s development agenda.
“This is a collective effort to ensure that as part of our National Development Strategy 2 we are working in an environment that is conducive and productive,” he said.
NetOne Regional Manager for Manicaland and Mashonaland East, Willard Mazanhi, said the clean-up campaign promotes responsible citizenship.
“We are gathered here for the clean-up campaign which follows a declaration by His Excellency Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa. To me this is a very important activity because it relates to our Africanship and the Zimbabwean identity in us,” said Mazanhi.
He said the culture of cleanliness begins at household level.
“From the homes we come from we are encouraged every morning to clean up where we live, and this initiative reminds us to maintain the same standards in our communities,” he said.
Mazanhi thanked stakeholders including the police and government offices for participating in the campaign despite their busy schedules.
“If you look around, you will see that the environment is now different. This is supposed to be a routine that we do on a daily basis,” he said.
He added that similar clean-up activities were also being conducted in other areas, including growth points in Mashonaland East where NetOne teams were also participating under the NetOne Mega National Clean-Up campaign.