Cephas Shava
17 Feb 2017 – MWENEZI – The Local Authority Capacity Enhancement Project (LACEP), an organisation funded by the European Union (EU), has channelled funds to the Mwenezi Rural District Council (MRDC) to cater for solid waste management.
The organisation released the funding for the improvement of rubbish disposal at Rutenga and Neshuro growth points as well as the installation of bins in other areas as part of its drive to reduce littering and maintain healthy surroundings.
LACEP project coordinator, Philip Kundishora said the programme to support environmental cleanliness as well as help rural and urban councils to better manage the environment would continue up until midyear.
“We have projects with 13 councils in the country; five in urban councils and eight in rural councils. In Masvingo province, our focus is Mwenezi RDC, Bikita RDC and Chiredzi.
“In these councils, authorities identify an area where they feel there is a gap, and then LACEP chips in with the assistance. As for Mwenezi RDC, they have decided to focus on solid waste management,” said Kundishora.
MRDC executive officer for Agriculture and the Environment, Kudzai Sirewu expressed gratitude to LACEP and said the council was going on a clean-up campaign in the district.
“We received funds from LACEP late last year and we have already embarked on a number of programmes like community sensitisation. We will also have a four-hour clean-up campaign at Neshuro growth point on 22 February and another four-hour cleaning of Rutenga on 15 March 2017.
“In other parts of the district where the clean-up may not reach, we intend to establish bins. All the stakeholders have already been engaged,” said Sirewu.
Sirewu said a temporary shut-down of businesses during the clean-up campaigns was expected so as to make sure that everyone participates.
MRDC is also looking for more funding to make sure that no part of the district will be left out.local
