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Highfield clean-up campaign: Residents in action
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
February 13, 2009

The residents in Highfield, in conjunction with the Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) conducted a clean up campaign yesterday (the 12th of February) at Lusaka Social centre in Highfield. The popular action comes after the residents decided to remove piles of refuse that have accumulated at most community centres in the suburb as a result of the City of Harare's failure to collect refuse since the beginning of last year.

Highfield is one of the Harare suburbs that have been adversely affected by the emergence of numerous informal dumping sites, a situation that has exposed the health of residents to cholera outbreaks that have been worsened by the onset of the rainy season. The waste management system in Harare deteriorated after the Makwavarara-led Commission failed to collect refuse from Harare's suburbs during its term of office. The situation has not improved even after the newly elected Council assumed office late last year. However, residents are cognizant of the fact that the Council has a mammoth task to undo the damage that was done by the Commission and restore quality municipal service delivery in Harare, a task that is not an overnight job. Residents have, however, seen it fit to spearhead the restoration process through community-based popular action campaigns.

More than 50 residents participated in the campaign. Mr. Charles Beni, the CHRA Secretary who is also the Coordinator for Highfield Ward 24, said that the residents have also started community gardening where they grow different types of herbs for use by the community. The refuse that was removed from the Lusaka Social Centre where the clean-up campaign was carried out, was deposited in the composts that have been built for the purposes of community gardening. Mr Beni said that it is important for residents to explore ways of developing their communities and act responsibly to tackle the service delivery challenges that are being faced in their areas.

Residents received help from the Highfield Ward 24 Councilor who provided them with one wheelbarrow, brooms, rakes, hoes and shovels. CHRA provided a pick-up truck and some wheelbarrows.

The clean-up campaign is one of a series of other campaigns of the same nature which are lined up for Machembere Community Centre in Old Highfield, Zororo Centre and C J Hall in the same suburb.

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