The Zimbabwe Artisanal Miners Association (ZAMA), working in partnership with the Matobo Rural District Council (MRDC), has embarked on a monthly clean-up campaign in preparation for next year's Independence Day celebrations set to be held in Maphisa, Matabeleland South.
The initiative comes after government confirmed that Matabeleland South will host the 2026 national Independence commemorations, prompting the district to intensify efforts to improve its environment and public spaces ahead of the high-profile event.
Speaking to Southern Eye, ZAMA Matobo district chairman Ndodana Moyo said the clean-up programme began on Tuesday and will continue until April 2026. He described the exercise as a unifying campaign aimed at beautifying the district and instilling community pride.
"Our goal is to ensure that Maphisa is clean and presentable on this important national day," Moyo said. "We are calling on all stakeholders, government departments, organisations, businesses, churches, schools and residents to join us in this important initiative."
He added that the project will not only prepare the town for the celebrations, but also promote public health and support the broader national vision of a cleaner Zimbabwe. Moyo noted that Maphisa's status as a mining community has created waste-management challenges, particularly around informal settlements near the town, making the clean-up both necessary and timely.
The association has already begun mobilising resources, requesting donations such as refuse bins and drinking water from miners and local businesses to support volunteers during the exercises. Moyo said engagements were underway with relevant authorities to address issues affecting informal settlements and bolster environmental management efforts in the area.
He also confirmed that discussions had taken place with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), which is expected to help educate residents on waste handling and the economic value of recyclables. "Residents need to be taught that plastics can be recycled. They should not throw away their empty bottles, but instead use them to create wealth," he said.
Matobo RDC representative, councillor Roseburth Siziba, applauded the three wards that participated in the first phase of the campaign and urged residents to remain committed to the initiative. She reminded the public that clean-up actions are now mandatory under a statutory instrument and should form part of routine community behaviour.
"The clean-up is now a national requirement based on a statutory instrument gazetted by the government. Let us make it our routine exercise," Siziba said. "Those who go to church know that cleanliness is next to Godliness."
The monthly programme is expected to draw more community participation as the countdown to Independence Day begins, with stakeholders pushing to transform Maphisa into a clean, welcoming host town for Zimbabwe's historic celebrations.