Food-for-work initiative keeps Vic Falls clean

Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
WELL-WISHERS in Victoria Falls have come up with a food-for-work initiative where people affected by Covid-19 volunteer to clean around the town before getting a food hamper which includes a 10-kilogramme pack of mealie-meal.

More than 200 people have benefited so far from the initiative which started on Friday. The initiative is meant to complement Government’s various safety net initiatives and the national clean-up exercise launched by President Mnangagwa more than a year ago.

With the national clean-up exercise on hold because of the Covid-19-induced lockdown, some places in Victoria Falls have accumulated litter.

The Victoria Falls food-for-work initiative seeks to tidy the town in preparation for reopening of tourism to both domestic and international travellers. Last week some of the volunteers cleaned around the Central Business District and streets leading to Chinotimba and Mkhosana suburbs. Programme co-ordinator Mr Kent Davis said the initiative is aimed at encouraging people to take care of their environment regardless of the economic situation.

“This is a combination of two things. The taskforce is trying to assist after Covid-19 made people economically vulnerable due to mass unemployment. While we don’t have enough resources, we thought it was a good idea to combine food distribution with some work hence we partnered council to invite volunteers,” said Mr Davis.

He said more than 200 people have taken part in the two days the exercise has been done. Mr Davis said this would be done weekly.

“We want to make sure people have food but at the same time cleaning our town in preparation for that time when tourists will start coming. We feel everyone has been left vulnerable hence we are not screening as long as one has registered as a volunteer. We are keeping records so that people don’t volunteer twice at least for now,” he added.

He said social distancing is being observed during the cleaning exercises. More than three quarters of workers in Victoria Falls have been unemployed for the past three months after the implementation of the lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus. One of the volunteers, Ms Eunice Ncube from Chinotimba who is a curio vendor said she was grateful to be part of a team that is working to ensure that the resort town is cleaned. @ncubeleon

Source: Food-for-work initiative keeps Vic Falls clean (14/06/20)