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Cde Auxilia Mnangagwa (centre) leads a clean-up at Chinotimba Bus Terminus in Victoria Falls yesterday

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
HUNDREDS of Victoria Falls residents yesterday joined Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Environment and Tourism Cde Auxilia Mnangagwa to clean-up the resort town ahead of President Mugabe’s 91st birthday celebrations on Saturday.

The clean-up exercise which was coordinated by the Environment Management Agency (EMA) started at Chinotimba Bus Terminus and spread to other parts of the town.

Addressing a huge crowd that comprised MPs, members of the party’s youth league as well as officials from Victoria Falls and Hwange local authorities, hoteliers, the business community and school children, Cde Mnangagwa said successful tourism was also dependent on a clean environment.

Cde Mnangagwa who is the party’s candidate for Chirumanzu-Zibagwe Constituency by-elections, said Zanu-PF was committed to keeping Victoria Falls, an international destination, clean.

“It gives me pleasure to officiate at this special clean-up campaign as we count down to the national celebrations of the birthday of our iconic and heroic President. The campaign is being held as part of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal for sustainable environment which the party’s environment department has adopted as its theme,” she said.

She appealed to residents to maintain cleanliness.

“Zanu-PF initiated this campaign to coincide with President Mugabe’s 91st birthday to heighten awareness and ensure that we’ve a clean environment given that this town is a world famous tourist resort,” she said.

Cde Mnangagwa urged people to preserve wetlands which she said were being destroyed by people who were recklessly allocating such land for construction of houses.

She expressed concern on the deplorable state of some old suburbs in the country which she said needed urgent attention.

“I would like to express grave concern on the deplorable state of the residential environment of old suburbs which have become a health hazard. I therefore urge everyone to take part in the cleaning exercise to be undertaken every Saturday of each month,” said Cde Mnangagwa.

Zanu-PF provincial youth chairman Cde Tamuka Nyoni commended Cde Mnangagwa and the general public for joining hands in the clean-up exercise.

“We want to thank you for coming to lead us in the clean-up exercise as we prepare for the celebrations. As a province and youths, we’re ready for the birthday celebrations and everything is in place. What we’re waiting for now is the President to come so we celebrate with him,” he said.

“This year’s celebrations are unique because we’re celebrating three achievements. As youths we’re solidly behind our leaders and we will support them even when the chips are down,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of Matabeleland North Provincial Minister of State Cde Cain Mathema, District Administrator Tapera Mugoriya said Zanu-PF will advocate for enforcement of environmental laws to keep the environment clean.

“As Zanu-PF we strongly believe that every business operation should be firmly guided by sustainability principles which take into account environmental issues. The clean-up campaign marks the beginning of our collective effort in maintaining Victoria Falls as the cleanest town.