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NewsDay

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CSO aid Ngozi Mine squatters with recycling projects

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A CIVIC group has embarked on a programme to assist the informal sector in the recycling business of disposed material.

A CIVIC group has embarked on a programme to assist the informal sector in the recycling business of disposed material.

BY NIZBERT MOYO

This was revealed by the chairperson of The Above Mining Project, Sinqobile Ndlovu, yesterday at a Ngozi Mine Health Expo Event held in Cowdray Park, Bulawayo, at the weekend.

“We managed to save over 100 people in medical assistance by independent medical doctors and pharmacists and assisted them on how they can get national IDs and birth certificates for free and we also distributed over 300 reusable sanitary pads to women to commemorate the Mothers’ Day,” Ndlovu said.

She also revealed that The Above Ground Mining Project, which is under Junior Chamber International, started its operations this year and is engaging those in the informal sector to be involved in the recycling business as they want to develop the informal recycling players and reduce the number of people living on less than $1,25 per day.

“From the research that we have done, we realised that people are leaving at a minimum of $3 per month, which is way below the poverty datum line. During the year, we will be rolling out programmes to improve the informal players’ income generation activities through health expo, providing access to health related services and IDs and birth certificates,” Ndlovu said.

Ngozi Mine community eke their living through the collection and selling of used bottles and plastics, which are used for recycling.

We have realised that 49,5% of these people in informal recycling sector do not have these basic documents, therefore, cannot access the basic mainstream services such as education, health and even registration of a SIM card,” Ndlovu said.

She said another event will be held to commemorate the World Environment Day in June in Bulawayo, where we they will be having an Above Ground Mining exhibition and market Fair.

“Various artefacts made from recycled waste will be on sale and a documentary that we have been shooting on informal sector recycling in Bulawayo will be show cased,” Ndlovu said.

She said they were working with different partners such as Zimbabwe Dental Association, Trinity Project, Young at heart Foundation Trust and Independent medical doctors and pharmacists and still appeal for more partners.