By Poloko Mokhele
Upon realising that a number of graduates from his field of study were already unemployed after graduating, Rethabile Molumo remembered the words of his lecturer who opened his eyes to the importance of waste management, and decided to create a business from it.
In 2016, Molumo took a decision to start Mazenod Waste Collection, a plastic waste management business, whose inspiration, he says, came from one of his lecturers when he was still pursuing his studies.
“I drew my inspiration from one of my lecturers who talked about waste management in a way that inspired me and I felt I could make a living out of it due to the high unemployment rate in our country,” Molumo said.
Molumo told theReporter this week that in 2019 he teamed up with his friend, Mpho Phakisi and formed a partnership that led to the launch of M.P.H.O Cleaners and Sanitary Services which is still focusing on plastic waste management and e-waste.
“We encourage people to collect recyclable materials like boxes, plastics, bottles and then we buy them, then bale and export them to South Africa.
“Our aim is to change the mindsets of some Basotho who regard waste as something that needs to be thrown away and it ends there. We want to show them that they can create a lot of opportunities from waste, while also protecting our environment. We aim to become one of the biggest recycling companies in Lesotho by opening a full scale plastic recycling company and exporting to other SADC countries,” he stated.
The Bachelor of Sciences in Environmental Health degree holder from the National University of Lesotho, indicated that their biggest achievements so far include being in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Lesotho on issues relating to plastic waste management.
Molumo stated that they are currently encouraging people, particularly women and youth, to start recycling cooperatives in order to make a living through recycling.
“We began this with some women at Manonyane and we hope to see more coming on board and teaching them about the importance of proper waste management,” Molumo said.
M.P.H.O Cleaners and Sanitary Services operates in Mazenod near the Moshoeshoe I International Airport main road.
