- NWDC chairperson welcomes the initiative
- Says the By-Law Department needs to up its game in enforcing local ordinances
- Maun has for years been labelled untidy for its status as tourism village
The North West District Council (NWDC) chairperson, Itumeleng Kelebetseng has welcomed the national clean-up campaign initiative announced by President Duma Boko, noting that it will be more appropriate for Maun which he decried continues to be untidy owing to public littering and illegal dumping.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, Boko indicated that the campaign is in response to poor state of the country’s environment and habitats.
Under the campaign, the second Saturday of every month will be designated as a clean-up day, and the president has called upon every community member to take part in cleaning their respective environment.
“I call upon businesses, institutions and the informal sector to keep their immediate and greater surroundings clean at all times. Community leaders are particularly important in enforcing this new culture of cleanliness,” Boko pleaded.
Maun, as a gateway to the Okavango Delta has for years been labelled as untidy for its status as a tourism village, leading to the normalisation of the status quo. Authorities have also in the process, conspicuously admitted to the failure in sustainable waste management by shutting down certain spots in the village to curb littering.
In an interview, Kelebetseng supported the initiative noting that the NWDC has already started, but at a district level highlighting their regular litter picking campaigns around Maun including popular entertainment spots along the Thamalakane River.
“So, when its at a national level, I believe that it will work for us because it forces everyone to participate in keeping their environment clean,” said Kelebetseng highlighting that countries such as Japan has also adopted similar initiatives.
He noted that the clean up campaign is more appropriate for Maun which he decried its continued untidy state owing to littering and illegal dumping.
With the village regarded as the country’s tourism capital, the council chairman lamented that the state has become an eyesore to tourists. “It is a shame for Maun as a tourism destination to be in this state with litter everywhere, how do we sell it to the world dirty as it is,” Kelebetseng regretted.
While acknowledging shortage of manpower faced by the department of by-law but Kelebetseng said there is need for the office to up its game in enforcing local ordinances with regards to waste disposal and public cleanliness.
“We need to be serious about issuing fines to homesteads and business that are found to be violating these by-laws,” urged the chairman who noted that such used to be strictly enforced in the past.
He noted that the problem is also exacerbated by widespread illegal sand mining around Maun particularly along the Thamalakane River as people dump litter in these pits. Kelebetseng revealed that they have since engaged the mining department to consider opening a regional office in Maun to closely address issues related to sand mining in the area.
With Maun envisaged to be transformed into a green city, Kelebetseng said there is need for effective sustainable waste management urging residents to promote public cleanliness. The planned transformation is driven by the goal of modernising and sustainably developing Maun, which serves as a tourism hub for the Okavango Delta.
Meanwhile, in his address Boko announced that government has taken a decision to ban single use plastic bags noting the industry has advanced to a point where biodegradable packaging is available, hence there is no excuse.
“The cleanliness of our environment is a personal responsibility that should be engrained in us as a habit,” the president urged.
