The Harare Bike Day Clean-Up Campaign held on Monday, 1st June was the first part of the World Bike Day celebrations week. The clean-up campaign brought together several stakeholders who came out to support the initiative and actively take part in making a difference. Representatives from Oriel Girls High School, Oriel Boys High School, Clean and Green Zimbabwe, Kennan Properties, Geo Pomona, City Council, and several other partners joined hands in the clean-up effort.
World Bicycle Day is celebrated globally to highlight the benefits of cycling as a simple, affordable, clean, and environmentally sustainable means of transportation. Through this Active Mobility initiative, the City of Harare aims to raise awareness on climate change mitigation by reducing urban vehicular emissions. This year’s celebrations are being held under the international theme: “Promoting cycling as a tool for building a healthier, sustainable, and inclusive society.”
While cycling was at the heart of the celebration, the clean-up campaign also carried a much bigger message.
It was about encouraging cleaner communities, promoting responsibility, and reminding people that caring for the environment is something that should become part of everyday life. One of the most encouraging parts of the campaign was seeing school children actively involved. Having young people take part in such initiatives is important because it allows them to see positive action happening around them and hopefully take it on as a lifelong responsibility. When children grow up understanding that keeping their environment clean is their role too, they are more likely to carry that mindset into adulthood and inspire others along the way.
Later that afternoon, while taking my usual walk, I could not help but pay even closer attention to the litter along our streets. It was almost ironic that after attending a clean-up campaign, I was nearly hit by a piece of litter thrown out of a kombi window by a conductor along Gletwyn Road.
It was a small moment, but one that said a lot. Clean-up campaigns are powerful, but they also remind us how much more awareness and personal responsibility are still needed.
At Bambazonke, we would also like to encourage schools to take part in similar clean-up campaigns within their own communities. To make it even more exciting, we will be offering a Bambazonke Cup to the school with the best video showing their clean-up campaign. Schools can post their videos on social media and tag Bambazonke on either Instagram or Facebook to take part. The aim is not only to reward the best video, but to encourage young people to take ownership of their surroundings and become active champions of cleaner, healthier spaces.
If you would like to be part of the World Bike Day celebrations, there is still more to come. You can join the celebrations at Oriel Girls High School on Wednesday, 3rd June, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. There will also be a Social Cycling Ride on Saturday, 6th June, starting from the Newlands AA Roundabout to Oriel Girls High School, also running from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.