By Tendai Matunhu and Christopher Makaza

President Emmerson Mnangagwa today led the national clean-up campaign at Ashbrittle shopping centre in Mt Pleasant as his initiative to inculcate a sense of cleanliness in the country gathers momentum.

Speaking during the clean-up, President Mnangagwa urged everyone to participate in the clean-up exercise regardless of their political affiliation, religion or status in society, highlighting that cleanliness brings about peace, unity and prospect of prosperity.

President Mnangagwa urged company owners to make sure that workers work in clean and conducive working environments.

He said he was pleased with the improvements in Harare as it was now cleaner than it was last year. He said it was because of everyone’s effort that it is what it is today and not because of foreign interventions and efforts.

“I am very pleased that Harare is now a clean city, better than what it was last year. I continue to call upon everyone to take this initiative seriously so that we achieve our objective of keeping our environment clean,” he said.

He chronicled the liberation history and what led to sanctions and Zimbabwe`s exit from the commonwealth, singling out the issue of the land reform as the main cause of conflict between Zimbabwe and the West.

President Mnangagwa encouraged beneficiaries of the land reform to fully utilise the land and produce enough to feed their families and the country at large.

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would continue to engage and re-engage with the international community in an effort to rebuild the economy.

He said Government would continue to avail more ZUPCO buses which will be charging affordable fares, adding that the existing fares will continue until he gives a green light for them to be hiked when the need arise. President Mnangagwa said Government would source for appropriate buses to cater for people with disabilities.

Speaking at the same occasion, event organisers, Spar Human Resources Manager, Moses Chihuri said as Spar, they fully supported the clean-up campaign. He highlighted that they currently have 50 000 tonnes of litter they had collected since the beginning of the exercise.

On behalf of Spar, Chihuri pledged to assist any 50 disadvantaged children with payment of school fees through Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Angel of Hope Foundation. He also commended the good works the First Lady is doing in her philanthropic work.