Premier League Teams Join Manzini Municipality in Bus Rank, Mangwaneni Clean-Up This Friday

20 April 2022 in Community, Events, News

…Municipality partners with Yibutse, Manzini-based Premier League teams, schools, business sector, ratepayers associations as part of celebration of 2022 Earth Day

The 22^nd day of April in every year is a very special day for all environment lovers. Dubbed Earth Day, it is a day of action to change human behaviour and strive for a cleaner environment. Behaviour change in relation to the environment is increasingly becoming an urgent matter for all human kind as the ravages of climate change become more and more apparent. Earth Day is a day when tens of thousands of people, globally, take action to advocate for protection of the environment from unwanted behaviour such as pollution and deforestation. It is a time when the globe engages in pro-environment activities such as picking of litter and planting of trees in order to make the world a healthier and happier place to live in. Littering has tragic consequences on the environment. As litter degrades, some chemicals and micro-particles are released and these chemicals make their way into the soil and fresh water sources; thereby causing irreparable harm to humans and animal species. Moreover, despite that it makes the environment look unsightly, improperly discarded garbage is a breeding ground for bacteria and diseases. Littering also causes climate change. Litter, particularly plastic material, takes hundreds of years to decompose. This causes the formulation of greenhouse gases that cause the planet to become hotter than normal.

Inspired by Goal 11 of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Sustainable Cities and Communities), in particular target number 6; ‘by 2030 reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management’, the Municipal Council of Manzini, in partnership with pro-environmental protection non-governmental organisation Yibutse Green !ction, will this Friday join the globe in celebrating the 2022 Earth Day under the theme “Invest In Our Planet”. The theme calls for all humans to invest time and resources towards preservation and protection of the environment. The event will entail picking of litter within the Manzini Main Bus Rank, main streets within the city centre as well as the Mangwaneni informal settlement. Public transport operators, bus rank marshals as well as informal traders who ply their trade within the bus terminus are expected and encouraged to participate in the exercise. Same with residents of Mangwaneni informal settlement.

The clean-up campaign will focus on promoting citizen-action in cleaning up public and living spaces and encouraging the culture of volunteerism for public good.

The goal of the campaign is to inspire communities and businesses within and around the City of Manzini and across Eswatini to take charge of their environment and minimise environmental pollution. One of the exciting highlights of the event is that top players of Manzini-based elite football teams, including Manzini Wanderers FC, Moneni Pirates FC, Manzini Sundowns FC, Sea Birds FC and Milling Hotspurs FC will join the clean-up campaign and also mingle with residents. Moreover, pupils from schools within the City of Manzini will participate as the event is also meant to benefit and inspire future generations. The clean-up campaign starts at 7am at Manzini Bus Rank and ends at King Somhlolo Park. Covid-19 protocols will be observed. The Municipal Council of Manzini is proud of its collaboration with Yibutse Green !ction and the various corporate sponsors on the commemoration of Earth Day 2022. Our message as the City of Manzini is that every day should be Earth Day. The bus rank that we will be cleaning on Friday should be kept clean even beyond 2022 Earth Day. Same with Mangwaneni informal settlement and the entire city.

As the Municipality, and in collaboration with Yibutse and all our partners, we will continue educating our communities in Manzini that when one litters, they affect the whole environment. It is also worth-mentioning that it is costly to clean the environment. These are resources that could otherwise be utilised in other areas of service delivery, the ultimate goal being to make urban living an enjoyable experience. It is worth-noting that the City of Manzini is fresh from yet another environment oriented event, the 2022 World Water Day, which saw rivers, streams and wetlands being freed of pollution. Keeping the city, including all neighbourhoods within it, clean is a pillar goal of the Municipality. We have forward-looking systems in place in the City of Manzini for proper waste management and effective facilities for refuse collection and disposal but we encourage citizens to take personal responsibility to minimise waste and support recycling initiatives. The Manzini Buy Back, situated just opposite Manzini SEDCO estate and below the Municipal Abattoir, is at citizens’ disposal. Instead of illegal dumping and littering, citizens are encouraged to support recycling efforts by the Municipality. A clean and vibrant city will attract investors and ensure sustainable livelihoods.

…MANZINI CITY LEADS IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, SAYS YIBUTSE

Musa Ndlangamandla, the founder and Executive Director of Yibutse Green !ction, says the City of Manzini continues to lead the way in service delivery, citizen participation in development efforts and environmental stewardship.

In an interview with Manzini News ahead of 2022 Earth Day, the Executive Director said: “The Earth Day 2022 commemoration places the City of Manzini firmly on the global stage for innovation and climate change adaptation. This is an important day, recognised by cities around the world to sensitise citizens and governments about the urgency of the climate change issues and the devastating effects of environmental degradation”.

He said Yibutse Green !ction and its volunteers viewed the 2022 Earth Day clean-up campaign as a continuation of the organisatiuon’s mission to bring various stakeholders to play their part in raising awareness about environmental cleanliness, cleaning up their neighbourhoods and making a difference.

“The citizens of Manzini will benefit from our collaboration with the Municipal Council of Manzini and our sponsors as we ensure the spirit of volunteerism transcends boundaries and spreads across the country,” Ndlangamandla stated.

…A BIG THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING EVENT SPONSORS

The Municipal Council of Manzini and Yibutse Green !ction take this opportunity to express appreciation to the following companies for ‘Investing In Our Planet’ through sponsoring Manzini’s 2022 Earth Day celebration. Other companies are encouraged to partner with the Municipality in future events.