- “Most of these worship groups set up beneath trees without permanent structures, fencing, ablutions, or waste bins”- NWDC Chairman
North West District Council (NWDC) Chairperson, Itumeleng Kelebetseng has taken advantage of his Kgotla meetings to address the persist issue of litter in Maun which has become an eyesore. Kelebetseng recently pointed to the rapid emergence of churches in undesignated areas as a major contributor to the deteriorating cleanliness of Maun.
Speaking at a consultative kgotla meeting with residents of Kubung, Kgosing, Borolong, and Mabudutsa on Tuesday, Kelebetseng warned that the village’s untidy state threatens its reputation as Botswana’s tourism hub and the gateway to the Okavango Delta.
“Most of these worship groups set up beneath trees without permanent structures, fencing, ablutions, or waste bins,” Kelebetseng noted. He further alleged that many of these organisations operate illegally, lacking proper registration and licensing.
The chairman’s concerns extend beyond religious gatherings. He highlighted a widespread culture of waste mismanagement among residents and businesses, condemning the practice of creating illegal dumping sites and temporary landfills.
Kelebetseng warned that the pollution is leaking into the Okavango Delta and protected wildlife areas. “Our National Parks are littered to the extent that you will spot an eland or an impala chewing plastic along with grass. This portrays a devastating image to our tourists,” he said.
He urged the community to take personal responsibility, starting with their homesteads, and encouraged residents to register for the council’s litter collection service at the subsidised rate of P100 per annum.
During the meeting, residents Monei Diane and Mooketsi Phaladi called for a joint task force between Bye-Law officers and the Police to shut down illegal church operations.
Gomang Keitumetse, Chairperson of the Umbrella Village Development Committees (VDC), concurred that the village is in a “bad state,” specifically citing the Maun Bus Rank as a cleanliness hotspot. She also raised alarms regarding local schools, describing them as unhygienic environments for learners.
“One reason schools remain untidy is the lack of funds to employ dedicated cleaning personnel,” Keitumetse explained. In response, resident Otshedile Masoko suggested that Parents and Teachers Associations (PTAs) take the lead in hiring cleaning staff.
To combat the crisis, resident Bathobangwe Tsheko suggested revitalizing the national campaign that declares the second Friday of every month a general cleaning day, insisting that consistency is the only way to restore Maun’s status as a “green city.”
