Ana Solanki, wife to Dr Vivek Solanki, in Blue with several other community members during the clean up
Environment Reporter
A cloudy, yet rain-free Saturday, April 26, provided ideal conditions for a major community clean-up initiative in Borrowdale. Led by the Trauma Centre’s B’Dale’s Dr. Vivek Solanki and his wife Ana, the Trauma Centre team, partnering with the City of Harare, the community and vendors, changed the one time eyesore to a clean island.
The event, scheduled from 9am to 3pm, extended to 5pm. Over 100 volunteers transformed the overgrown island at the corner of Whitwell and Borrowdale Roads, from an eyesore, into a beautiful green space.
Like a colony of ants working in perfect harmony, the volunteers moved in unison, each contributing their unique skills and efforts to transform the overgrown island into a vibrant oasis.
The island, littered with debris and unkempt grass, was reclaimed through collective effort.
Dr. Solanki emphasized, “No one but ourselves can bring the sunshine back. Today, we are at the corner of Borrowdale and Whitwell Road. We have a major clean-up initiative, Trauma Centre staff, the Borrowdale community, with support from the City of Harare, today will clean up this space. Our motto is ‘You start with yourself.’ Let’s work together to clean up Harare! The three-phase project includes cleaning (April 26), landscaping (May 3), and tree planting (May 10),” said Dr Solanki.
Jacqueline Chigwande, leader of Vendors For Real, an organisation for vendors thanked Trauma Centre for the clean suburb initiative.
“I work across the road. Our clients contribute much of the litter. Although we have a bin next to the bus stop, litter is still thrown away in undesignated areas. I have joined the clean-up exercise because I am part of the leaders of the Mt Pleasant/Borrowdale vendors. Since pedestrians have made a footpath on the island, it would be good to have a bin or two on the island. We hope more companies take up more dirty spaces to bring out the lost beauty,” said Chigwande.
Part of the island along Borrowdale road, during th clean up exercise by the Borrowdale and Mt Pleasant community
A resident from Borrowdale, Mrs Mapfumo, who turned up with her daughter said she was pleased to be part of the clean suburb.
“When this was announced in our community group, I told my daughter that there was no way I would miss this initiative. I cancelled my appointments, here we are today, raking the grass,” said Mrs Mapfumo.
The work saw grass cutters using the arm sling fuel powered grasscutters mowing the long grass. Several with hoes weeding, others carried big bin liners, and by day end, over 15 big bags were filled with litter. Mounds of trimmed shrubs and grass filled five truck loads.
With sand on the roads, others swept the edges of the roads.
Several motorists driving by slowed down to appreciate the work.
A few disembarked to shake hands with the workers. Others asked to have pictures taken with Dr Solanki. Refreshments were served on site.
A new refreshing environment was the result of the artistic green hands who had trimmed the shrubs giving topiary shapes.
The event showcased community spirit in transformative change.
Join us this Saturday on 3 May to give the island a befitting view of landscape.
Dr. Vivek Solanki leading from the front