Zimbabwe’s Lotteries and Gaming Board links responsible gambling to community wellbeing during Harare clean-up campaign

During the National Clean-up Campaign in central Harare on March 6, the LGB urged the public to treat gambling as entertainment, set limits, and avoid unlicensed sites, as volunteers from the gaming sector joined government and private partners including the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and Geo Pomona.

Zimbabwe’s Lotteries and Gaming Board (LGB) has used its participation in the National Clean-up Campaign in Harare to amplify calls for stronger responsible gambling practices, telling citizens that gambling should be approached with the same mindset of discipline and responsibility that communities apply to protecting public spaces. The clean-up took place on Friday, March 6 in central Harare and drew volunteers from the gaming sector as well as other groups.

Speaking after the exercise, LGB chief executive Dr Misheck Pachipano Chingozha said improving community conditions starts with individual and collective attitude, urging citizens to “look at life intently and responsibly.” In the same message, he tied responsible behaviour in daily life to responsible behaviour in gaming—warning against treating gambling as a way to make a living.

The LGB’s key safer-play reminders were direct: gamble for fun, know when to stop, and walk away after losses rather than chasing them. The board also warned against using unlicensed gambling sites, noting that participation in illegal gaming is an offence and offers no consumer protections.

Organisers said the clean-up included participation from multiple stakeholders, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage and waste management firm Geo Pomona, reflecting a broader push for public-private involvement in national environmental initiatives. For the regulator, the event provided a high-visibility setting to reinforce that community health includes both physical environments and social behaviours—especially as gambling availability grows through retail outlets and digital channels.