Your Worship George Mwanza, search for local solutions
His Worship the Mayor of the Chipata City Council, Mr George Mwanza is the youngest “father” of the city in Zambia today. He is pragmatic and carries a flesh vision of the people-led development.
In pursuit of this grand vision, under his leadership, Chipata City Council is the first African city to initiate a partnership with the Dormagen City of Germany which will cover many areas including climate change, cultural exchange and effective solid management systems.
The partnership agreement was signed during the visit of the City of Chipata by the Mayor of Dormagen, Mr Erik Lierenfeld and his delegation (see ccc. Facebook. October 26 2022).
Twinnings or partnerships between cities in the Global North and Global South are not new, except in the emerging case of the Chipata City Council, the partnership stands a great chance of success because of the accountable leadership by the young mayor.
In the past, such partnerships were used by the local city bureaucrats such as town clerks and mayors as paid holidays in European or North American cities.
They were also used to raise scholarships for their own or close family members at the expense of the broad local level development agenda.
The Chipata and Dormagen partnership agreement has covered very relevant areas.
There is need however for caution on solid management system. If the council is seeking home grown and sustainable solid waste management systems, the school of built environment at the Copperbelt University has done a variety of action research and developed models that can be tested.
All you need, Lord Mwanza, is financing that could also come from the Community Development Fund and supplementary cash from your twin city, Dormagen.
No need to waste time when you have the local funding sitting in your local account waiting for utilisation.
It is important that the approach reflects social entrepreneurship because solid wastage management is embedded within the ethos of climate change.
The processes are in themselves job creating and restorative of the ecosystem and biodiversity of the communities of the great city of Chipata. Your worship, I wish you success.