. Lungu

By SAM PHIRI –
IT’S a thought through fact that Lusaka and other cities of Zambia have become less organised, dirty and unregulated such that one does not even need to ask questions of who is not doing what.
Not delving into fault-finding details, just take a casual walk along most roads in the cosmopolitan city of Lusaka, perhaps even Kitwe in the central business districts (CBDs) and see major waste generation along a huge number of street vendors.
With almost every open space now free for trade, even motor vehicle ‘garages’ have been created with careless decanting of used oil, grease and indiscriminate deposal worn-out parts in areas that are supposed to be normal parking spaces.
Even those who would buy take-away food or drinks would not mind where they dispose of the waste as almost everywhere one would step there must be some garbage.
There could be no better way of describing what has become of Lusaka and other major cities of Zambia: ‘Dirty and unhealthy’ are the words.
Taking a gaze at most slapdash makeshift structures one does not need to be told that they are in fact literal filth for a standard of any modern city.
This leaves a major question that begs for answers, especially after the second re-launch of the Keep Zambia Clean and Healthy Campaign by Minister of Local Government and Housing John Phiri.
Will the campaign yield desired results this time around after the previous one was as good as an abortive project?
Perhaps it will, this time around, especially with a special directive from the Head of State, President Edgar Lungu.
Returning the city like Lusaka to its acceptable standards is a toll order for the Ministry of Local Government and Housing although the minister in charge seems determined to break through the thicket of impossibilities.
Impossibilities! one may wonder but take a turn at the Kafue roundabout into the Independence Avenue just opposite one of Zambia’s tallest buildings, Findeco House, and see yet another dismal filthy trading arrangement that can be mistaken for a temporary refugee camp.
This is yet another prime area in the city that has a glaring myriad of dirty-looking makeshift stalls countering with the building on the opposite side of the road just at the fly-over bridge.
Investigation by the Sunday Times of Zambia revealed that these same shoddy makeshift structures are during the night are turned into hideouts for criminals and sleeping places for the homeless, especially during the chilly season. Other people use them as brothels.
The Local Government minister admits there is a growing concern that surroundings in the country, especially in the major cities, are generally dirty.
What gives Dr Phiri an extra muscle is the special and precise directive from President Lungu during the 5th Session of the 11th National Assembly.
The President emphasised urgent need for the country to change the mindset by striving towards working and living in a clean environment.
“The President directed my ministry and the one responsible for Environment to resuscitate the Keep Zambia Clean and Healthy Campaign,” he said during the official flagging off of the campaign.
Now, with the inadequacy of manpower against the massive refuse generation per day, the Lusaka City Council (LCC), for example, has ‘failed’ to maintain the city clean, not to talk about the health aspect.
This is a serious challenge to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
In the previous and the first keep Zambia Clean and Healthy campaign under late President Levy Mwanawasa, it was a huge battle, especially between the major generators of waste in the street and law enforcers, an undertaking that is said to have gobbled up quite a fortune.
Now President Lungu’s call for the cleanliness of the country could not come at a better time than this although there is still a huge doubt if this will record a success story looking at the ever increasing generation of refuse beyond many locxal authorities’ budget.
But what can be done more that the President would love to see a cleaner and healthy Zambia?
The culture of indiscriminately dumping waste is on the rise and further compounded by environmental unfriendly packaging materials and carelessly spilled used oils.
But Dr Phiri has an initiative that is yet to be tried and might actually serve some resources if well implemented: “I call upon all authorities and provincial administrations to identify the cleanest cities, towns, townships and premises that will receive recognition awards for being cleanest in the campaign.”
He goes on to say; “Our desire in this initiative and campaign, to have a situation where some of our towns and cities join the league of smart cities of the world within the next five years.”
This dream is attainable with the change of the mindset as President Lungu put it in his special address although it is an open secret that many people who are generating waste would not be easily convinced but perhaps with the use of relative force.
It is indeed everyone’s desire just as the President wants to see a congestion-free corridor, clean streets with traders in designated trading areas though the question remains: What will it take to achieve this well-intended campaign in terms of resources?