Sithembinkosi L. Jiyane\/Business Reporter
Bulawayo \u2014 Bulawayo\u2019s streets have become an eyesore for residents, with City authorities and informal traders facing blame for uncontrolled littering plaguing Zimbabwe\u2019s once-cleanest urban center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, Bakani Ncube, a development practitioner and projects officer for the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA), insists vendors are striving to maintain cleanliness through regular clean-up campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe conduct awareness meetings on waste management and organize regular clean-up campaigns. Additionally, we established an enterprise specializing in waste collection, separation, and disposal,\u201d Ncube said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She highlighted BVTA\u2019s initiative to install color-coded bins across the Bulawayo Central Business District (CBD) to promote waste separation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese bins categorize waste into paper, glass, and plastics. Distribution begins soon, with some placed downtown by month-end,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While street vendors\u2019 economic struggles are acknowledged, environmental responsibility remains critical. A dirty City not only poses health risks but also deters tourism and harms local economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BVTA aims to bolster informal traders through Internal Savings and Lending Schemes (ISALS), technological integration, and partnerships with formal financial institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ncube emphasized balancing economic empowerment with environmental stewardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur strategy includes acquiring a moulding machine to recycle waste into products and installing a biogas digester for food waste,\u201d Ncube explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInformal produce traders generate significant waste, including spoilage from our Nkulumane wholesale market. Proper management is crucial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BVTA collaborates with the Ministry of Women\u2019s Affairs, Bulawayo City Council, and civil society organizations on clean-up campaigns and educational outreach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe preach \u2018Waste is money\u2019\u2014shifting mindsets to view waste as a resource,\u201d Ncube revealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The association seeks land to expand initiatives like Dynamic Waste, a youth-led waste enterprise currently hampered by rented premises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need space for recycling, greenhouses, and sewing hubs. We urge authorities to provide land and resources like skip bins and plastic waste bags for markets,\u201d Ncube said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also called for consistent enforcement of bylaws, particularly targeting nighttime vendors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPost-5 p.m. vendors often leave litter. Adjusting bylaws to regulate night vending could create a win-win,\u201d she argued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ncube identified \u201cmushroom traders\u201d \u2014 unaffiliated vendors operating illegally \u2014 as a major challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAuthorities must allocate designated vending spaces. For many, this is their livelihood,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2023, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Bulawayo Regional Manager Novuyo Mathonsi criticized council directors for lax refuse collection and unchecked informal trading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite BVTA\u2019s efforts, haphazard vending continues to exacerbate littering, underscoring the need for improved waste management and enforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zim GBC News\u00a92025<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Source: BVTA Trust<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7138"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7140,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7138\/revisions\/7140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/7139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/zimgbcnews.co.zw\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}