We should emulate Rwanda
Copying positive actions from another people or entities is the best thing to do. Many nations, including Namibia, have been struggling to have sound and integrated waste management systems in place, successful wellness services, and community engagement activities.
Here are some of the points that can help Namibia to move one or two steps in the three stated domains.
To start, our state can institute a mandatory national community work day. On this day, community members can contribute to environmental protection through erosion control, tree planting, and cleaning, developing, building and maintaining different infrastructure such as roads, houses for vulnerable people, public offices, health centres and schools.
In addition, community members can further help the poor and conduct other activities that are beneficial to the community. Interestingly, it has been successfully implemented in Rwanda. It is legal in Rwanda, and has been made a national holiday where the head of state partakes as well. The programme is called Umuganda, and it happens every last Saturday of the month. In Namibia, such events can occur once in three months.
Secondly, Kigali has a car-free day, which is aimed to contribute to clean air (environment) and promote good health. It further promotes social activities in the community. Residents walk from and to the work centres and other areas. Namibia can copy this practice, and make it mandatory for all the urban areas.
The onset step our state can take is to construct bicycle lanes and pedestrian routes along the main roads in all the towns. The City of Windhoek conducts a car-free day every year. However, it will be best if it is made a national day. Moreover, for the implementation of this day to be a success, political will and applicable resources will be required.
Thirdly, Rwanda completely banned plastic usage in 2008. Since then, Kigali has been the cleanest city in Africa.
An alternative to this will be the use of biodegradable materials such as packaging materials, as is successfully done in Rwanda. We can facilitate this by educating our people on waste management, specifically prevention, recycling, reusing and reducing the waste.
Consequently, the community will take ownership and make the initiative a success. One might argue that the 3Rs (reuse, recycle, reduce) are the best. This will be best once we come up with recycling centres in Namibia. The nation is currently only segregating the waste and sending it to South Africa, where recycling activities are conducted.
Proper waste management is important. Namibia needs to step up and ensure the whole nation achieves an effective waste management system (from generation to final disposal). Many of our towns’ dumping sites are not properly regulated nor are they in possession of the clearance certificates from the environment ministry, with poor waste segregation and further managements at most levels. To achieve this, the responsible personnel and offices need to ensure all the existing by-laws and regulations are enforced, while proper health education must be given for awareness and proper funding.
To add, there is a need for the mass provision of recycling infrastructure in all local authorities. We need to applaud Rent-A-Drum and Recycle Forum Namibia for the segregation activities in Namibia.
These moves will help Namibia to protect the environment, promote ubuntu and community health. We can successfully do it as well, just like Rwanda. I would like to applaud Windhoek, Swakopmund and Oshakati for their best practices on integrated waste management. * Kaweyenge Mathias Mushongo is an environmental health practitioner. The views expressed in this article are his, and do not represent his employer.