IN the heart of Harare’s overlooked spaces, like along alleys, dumpsites and forgotten corners, globally acclaimed feminist photographer, filmmaker, and researcher, Chido Nyaruwata, finds stories most people choose not to see.
Through her lens, discarded materials transform into narratives of resilience, where socially displaced women arise as architects of survival and sustainability.
Nyaruwata brings an eco-feminist gaze to climate and gender justice, portraying women as innovators, knowledge keepers and climate resilience leaders.
Waste harvesting and upcycling are not merely acts of environmental service; they are urgent socio-economic lifelines in urban Zimbabwe.
In a city buckling under the strain of mounting plastic pollution and irregular waste disposal, waste harvesters have carved out an informal economy from society’s excess.
Their work fuels the circular economy, supplying industries with recyclable materials and reducing municipal waste loads.
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Through upcycling, creative entrepreneurs like Eunice Thole breathe new life into discarded objects, turning waste into functional art and fashion.
This burgeoning sector presents immense potential for green jobs, community-driven business models, and climate-adaptive livelihoods, especially for women and young people navigating economic precarity.
Yet, the waste sector is not without its risks.
Harsh working conditions, lack of protective gear and constant exposure to pathogens leave many waste harvesters vulnerable to health crises like tuberculosis and mental exhaustion.
The stigma attached to their work further isolates them from public support and healthcare access.
Nyaruwata’s work not only humanises these individuals, but advocates for interventions that ensure safety, dignity and recognition.
“Mental health support, mobile clinics and inclusive policy frameworks must accompany climate adaptation efforts,” she said.
“We cannot talk about environmental justice without addressing the wellbeing of those on the frontlines.”
Nyaruwata’s photography on women in agriculture, landscapes, plastic pollution and waste harvesters has been showcased by the Shepherd Foundation, Unpublished Africa, and Africa Climate Alliance.
Her landmark mobile film Food Security and Waste Management in Harare was shortlisted for the United Nations-affiliated Earthbeat Challenge and screened at COP26 in Glasgow, the UK.
“Waste Harvesters in Harare is a photo essay that repositions women and young waste harvesters, upcyclers, and waste entrepreneurs as essential contributors to environmental knowledge and urban livelihoods.
“Grounded in feminist storytelling, the project challenges dehumanising narratives that reduce these individuals to ‘bin girls’ or ‘vultures’, instead framing them as frontline data gatherers and agents of environmental justice,” she said.
Selected pieces from this photo essay were exhibited at the Free2Express Group Exhibition during the 2025 Hub Unconference and Green Cities Expo under the Shoko Festival.
The photographs defended the dignity of waste harvesters as essential environmental stewards and providers for their families.
From founders like Mary Wazara, of the Recycling Lady Business and Social Trust, to young men converting dumpsites into micro-enterprises, the photo essay captures a deeply human side of urban survival.
“These actors are not only managing waste but reimagining the possibilities of the circular economy,” Nyaruwata added.
“The project argues for the need to cultivate more inclusive public spaces that recognise and support environmental expression.”