Partnership for Environmental Action in the City of Harare Through Implementation of the EPIC Model
START International, in partnership with EPIC-N, commissioned a mini-documentary highlighting the impactful work taking place in Harare through the collaborative efforts of Chinhoyi University of Technology and its partners.
This partnership focused on wastewater management and sanitation services, looking at how wastewater can be sustainably transitioned to clean water and compost. The partnership brought together multiple stakeholders, each playing a key role in addressing Harare’s environmental challenges. Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) contributed scientific expertise, developed training materials, and facilitated workshops on innovative solutions such as biomonitoring and vermicomposting. Harare City Council and Chinhoyi Municipality coordinated community engagement, ensured alignment with local policies, and participated in training initiatives.
“If we want to create sustainable transitions within cities, especially in the Global South, we need to leverage community science to put local communities at the forefront of any planning or any decisions that we would like to make regarding our cities.”
Tatenda Matewa, Chinhoyi University of Technology
The collaboration yielded significant results in advancing environmental sustainability. Municipal staff and students gained hands-on experience in waste management and pollution monitoring, while local capacity was strengthened through low-cost biomonitoring training.
“I find the (EPIC) Model very holistic because it promotes the collaboration of actors. It doesn’t put knowledge into hierarchies. It promotes actors, especially in academia, to simplify complex knowledge into something that every citizen or resident within a city can relate to. In that way I see it promoting action and also innovation that is organic, that is local-led.”
Tatenda Matewa, Chinhoyi University of Technology
This video includes testimonials from the following project participants:
- Tatenda Matewa, Chinhoyi University of Technology
- Chipo Dekesa, Chinhoyi University of Technology
- Tapiwa Whingwiri, Zim Earthwarm Farms
- Mike Kambeni, Chinhoyi University of Technology
- Professor Tongai Mwedzi, Chinhoyi University of Technology
- Elpha Machaba, Chinhoyi Municipality
Interested in learning more about this project? Read the full project story here.
View the video below:
