GCC's Garbage-For-Cash Gets Endorsement
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday March 2, 2020 16:03
While some might have gone to pick the trash to make pocket money, others went there to make a few pulas to feed their families or pay bills.
The Monitor had a chat with some of those who came to pick litter at the invitation of GCC and many seemed motivated to fill as many bags as possible in order to buy food and toiletries.
Kemmonye Ramogerita, 51, said her target was to fill up five bags so that she could at least pocket P150.
“I will be able to buy groceries for P100 and keep P50 for my son’s transport fare to school. The money is going to uplift some households and I am not ashamed to take part in the clean city campaign. I am not working and Ipelegeng did not take me this time,” Ramogerita explained her motivation to join the campaign.
“This initiative will help us and I wish council could continue doing it. I left my home very early to come and queue up here. I really thank God because I was one of the first 30 people to arrive.”
She said GCC’s initiative would also help city dwellers understand that one can make money through waste.
For his part Thabo Serapaelelwa, a vendor at the bus rank, said the money would help him to buy a few things at his home.
“I am going to buy toiletry with this money. I made P180. The money will help me a lot. Again as vendors we have learnt that waste can make money and it will help our environment to always be clean,” he said.
Another youth Tirelo Nkau, 23, who is a conductor in one of the buses said: “I was broke and I managed to make money for lunch. I only made P60. Ke belaela batho ba letse ba setse matlakala a mantsi bosigo ba bo ba a fitha gore ba a tlise phakela. Nkabo ke tladitse bag tse five,” Nkau said. Moemedi Rampape, 26, who is a student at the University of Botswana (UB), said he came to volunteer because he believes in a clean environment.
“It is important for our environment to always be clean because failure to do so, we are likely to have diseases due to a filthy environment,” Rampape said.
“The money I will make from collecting rubbish will also help me buy one or two things I need. I applaud the GCC for what it is doing.”
The deputy mayor, Lotty Manyapedza encouraged vendors at the bus rank to always keep their environment clean.
“It is important to sell your food and other things in a clean environment. Our city is dirty because we throw litter everywhere. You should know that waste could make money for you,” Manyapedza said.
“Let’s join hands in keeping the city clean. Our aim is to reach other areas in the city where there is dirt all over and to educate people on the dangers of staying in a dirty environment.”
He said their target was 300 bags, but they managed to fill more.