Staff Writer
HARARE — Zimbabwe last week joined the global community in commemorating World Cleanup Day, with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) highlighting the importance of clean communities, responsible waste management and environmental sustainability in strengthening the country’s tourism sector.
The national commemoration was held at Rufaro Stadium in Mbare, Harare, on Friday, 18 September, ahead of the global observance on 20 September, under the theme “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities.” The Patron of Environment and Tourism, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, was represented at the event by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Hon Daniel Garwe.
The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, led by Permanent Secretary Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa, also participated in the commemorations, underscoring the relationship between environmental management, sustainable tourism and the competitiveness of Zimbabwean destinations.
The ZTA said clean and well-managed destinations were essential to creating positive experiences for tourists and strengthening Zimbabwe’s image in the international tourism market.
“Clean and well-managed destinations enhance the tourist experience, strengthen destination appeal and contribute to Zimbabwe’s positive image as a tourism destination,” the tourism authority said.
The ZTA said the World Cleanup Day campaign also provided an opportunity to promote collective responsibility in tackling waste and encouraging practices such as recycling, reuse, proper waste disposal and the recovery of value from waste.
Global origins of World Cleanup Day
World Cleanup Day has its roots in grassroots environmental campaigns that mobilised communities to take direct action against litter and poorly managed waste.
The international movement gained significant momentum in 2008 when about 50 000 people in Estonia took part in a nationwide cleanup that cleared the country of illegally dumped waste in a single day. The concept subsequently spread internationally, with cleanup activities bringing together communities, schools, businesses, civil society organisations and governments.
Let’s Do It World
The United Nations General Assembly formally recognised World Cleanup Day in December 2023 when it adopted Resolution 78/122, proclaiming 20 September as World Cleanup Day to be observed annually. The resolution calls on governments, UN agencies, civil society, the private sector, academia and other stakeholders to use the day to raise awareness and support cleanup activities and sustainable waste management.
The 2026 observance places particular emphasis on food waste and the connection between what is discarded at household and community level and the wider challenge of keeping cities clean. The United Nations says more than one billion meals are wasted globally each day, while food waste contributes significantly to greenhouse-gas emissions and places additional pressure on waste-management systems.
Clean environment critical for tourism
For Zimbabwe, the significance of the campaign extends beyond environmental protection, with the ZTA linking cleanliness directly to tourism development.
The authority said clean communities and tourism destinations were fundamental to the country’s efforts to grow both domestic and international tourism, particularly as Zimbabwe pursues a sustainable, heritage-based tourism economy under its Vision 2030 aspirations.
Zimbabwe’s tourism offering is built around its natural landscapes, wildlife, cultural heritage and historical attractions. The quality of the environment surrounding these attractions, as well as urban centres and communities through which visitors travel, therefore forms an important part of the overall visitor experience.
The ZTA said the World Cleanup Day theme reinforced the need for communities and stakeholders to move beyond simply removing waste after it has been discarded and instead promote responsible consumption, waste reduction, recycling and recovery.
The message also comes as Government intensifies efforts to move Zimbabwe towards a more circular economy, with greater emphasis on recycling and recovering economic value from waste.
At the Mbare commemorations, Government called for a shift away from a “use-and-throw” mentality towards systems that reduce waste at source and strengthen collection, sorting and recycling infrastructure.
The ZTA said the campaign demonstrated that maintaining clean destinations was a shared responsibility involving Government, local authorities, communities, businesses, tourism operators and visitors.
As Zimbabwe continues to market itself internationally through initiatives such as #ExperienceZimbabwe, #NhakaYedu, #IlifaLethu, #OurHeritage, #ThisIsUs and #ZimBho, the tourism authority said environmental cleanliness would remain an important part of presenting the country as an attractive and sustainable destination.
The World Cleanup Day commemorations therefore served as both an environmental awareness campaign and a reminder that Zimbabwe’s tourism ambitions are closely connected to the way communities manage their surroundings.