ZNBWCB takes clean-up campaign to Mabvuku

Oscar J Jeke

The Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board, together with various other stakeholders, today held a clean-up and drug abuse awareness campaign at Matongo Shopping Centre, emphasising on peace, and clean communities in the wake of the cholera epidemic.

The Board took to the streets around the shopping centre picking up litter, while encouraging residents to continue with the habits of cleanliness and living a healthy lifestyle away from drug and substance abuse.

Speaking to Zim Now on the sidelines of the clean-up campaign, ZNBWCB provincial coordinator, Paula Maradze said that the campaign is aimed at maintaining clean communities in line with the vision of President Emmerson Mngangagwa.

“We are moving in line with the vision of the President and maintaining clean environments.”

Harare City Council representative at the event, Staneford Muchiza, emphasised the need for awareness on the dangers of litter and garbage in communities as various diseases arise from these.

“The cleaning awareness was for the community to be clean, especially with diseases like cholera and to educate people on cleanliness.”

Another campaign stakeholder at the event, All Stars Boxing Club coach, Loveless Chidziva, said that it is his desire to teach others discipline and protect the environment we live in.

“A lot of the time, we want to educate children on things that improve the community, we are here to encourage togetherness so that we achieve a clean and well-informed community,” Chidziva said.

Police from the CID Drugs and Narcotics present at the event, said that the campaign gives them a chance to preach and educate people on the dangers of drugs and substance abuse, while also encouraging addicts to go for rehabilitation.

“As police, we say no to drug abuse, we want to conscientise people on drug abuse, drugs are bad for health and affect mentality. We encourage rehabilitation programmes.”

Juluka Boxing Club representative Kambuyi also noted that engaging the community is important as businesses are run in these communities hence the need for a clean environment.

“The idea is the brainchild of the Board, we live in these communities as businesspeople, so we have to educate people on values like peace, clean communities and a good working environment.”

The Board, along with its various stakeholders, also encouraged schools and the community to let children take combat sports seriously as it has become a globally-recognised sport.