By George Makoni
HARARE – Glen View’s community-led waste management initiative has received a significant boost following the commissioning of new waste processing equipment and renewable energy infrastructure under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme, strengthening efforts to promote sustainable waste management and green livelihoods in one of Harare’s high-density suburbs.
The latest investment includes the delivery of a pipeline machine, a baling machine, solarisation of the Glen View Integrated Resource Recovery Centre (IRRC) , upgraded Black Soldier Fly biological waste-processing units, and personal protective equipment comprising gumboots and gloves for community waste collectors.
The intervention also includes refresher training and technical capacity development for community members, building on Phase One of the project, which provided a pelletising machine, protective clothing, and extensive training on the 4Rs of waste management—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover.
The project seeks to address persistent solid waste management challenges while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities through waste beneficiation and resource recovery.
The economic impact of the initiative is already being felt by beneficiaries. Ten women leading the community enterprise are now earning a minimum of US$300 per month from waste collection and recycling activities, with incomes expected to increase as production capacity expands.
Project beneficiaries described the intervention as life-changing.
“This support has transformed our lives and our community. We are no longer just cleaning our environment; we are earning a reliable living from what was once regarded as waste,” said Plaxdes Muzimba, Chairperson of the project beneficiaries.
Ward 32 Councillor Charles Chidhagu said the initiative demonstrates how strategic partnerships can strengthen community participation in addressing service delivery gaps.
“This intervention bridges the gap in local service delivery and empowers residents to take ownership of environmental hygiene while creating economic opportunities,” he said.
District Development Officer Kudakwashe Mupingashato described the project as a practical demonstration of sustainable urban development.
“We are witnessing a sustainable model where community-driven action is complemented by institutional support to address a long-standing municipal waste management challenge,” he said.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Community Water Alliance (CWA) National Coordinator Hardlife Mudzingwa emphasized that the organisation’s role is that of a technical facilitator working alongside communities to establish sustainable waste management systems rather than owning the project.
He said CWA’s long-term vision is to replicate the Glen View model in other residential areas across Zimbabwe as part of a broader strategy to promote community-driven circular economy initiatives and reduce pressure on local authorities’ waste management systems.
Mudzingwa acknowledged the complementary financial and technical support provided by UN-Habitat and We Effect, while expressing appreciation to all state and non-state actors whose collaboration has contributed to the project’s success.
He said the achievements recorded in Glen View demonstrate the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships involving government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, local authorities and community structures in delivering sustainable environmental solutions.
Presenting project performance indicators, Project Coordinator Mrs. Tsitsi Wutawunashe said continuous technical capacity development remains central to expanding community-led recycling initiatives.
She noted that strengthening local skills in waste segregation, recycling technologies and enterprise development will be critical in scaling similar interventions across Harare’s high-density suburbs and beyond.
The Glen View initiative has emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s notable examples of integrated waste management, combining renewable energy, resource recovery, environmental conservation and livelihood creation under a community-led approach aligned with national and global sustainable development objectives.