LET COUNCILS CONTROL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT - EX-MAYOR
LOCAL authorities should be given the mandate to run the solid waste management utility company for it to work as planned, says former Lusaka Mayor Daniel Chisenga.
Mr Chisenga said the councils should be allowed to run the utilities including the collection of revenue for reinvestment into the operations of the company.
He said the establishment of a waste management utility was an awesome move by the Ministry to help manage the perpetual garbage situation across the country, which would help to Keep Zambia clean.
“For the solid waste management company to work, let it be run by the local authorities, remit dividends and should for a start begin on a pilot level with Lusaka.
“It is a welcome move but there need to be measures to ensure that the company is truly run by the municipalities unlike the situation is with Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC),” he said.
He explained that the LWSC does not remit dividends to any of the three councils it operated in which included Lusaka, Chongwe and Kafue councils, and yet they were all shareholders in the company.
And Mr Chisenga has advised that in order for the company to be more relevant there was need to immediately and quickly invest in a waste-to-energy power plant to help generate some income to sustain its operation.
“Otherwise, without such innovation, it will end up being another project that will milk the little resources in the Ministry of Local Government and not add value for its creation.
“With the waste-to-energy power plant, the company will be able to sell units of power to Zesco to raise its own revenue and maintain its growth,” he said.
Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale recently announced Government’s intentions to establish a waste management utility to help bring to an end the garbage situation in the country especially in high economic areas like Lusaka, and the Copperbelt and other towns along the line of rail.
He said it was one of the ways they were confident could help reduce disease outbreaks and keep the cities clean as well as maintain clear drainages to avoid perpetual flooding in the rainy season.