20 Aug 2017

Batswana have been encouraged to keep the environment clean for the next generation.

Launching the national clean-up campaign on Friday, the Assistant minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Frans Van Der Westhuizen said it should be understood that it takes two, being the user and the retailer to deliver on a proper clean-up campaign to keep the environment clean and healthy.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen said the launch was a positive development in the ministry’s continued efforts to mobilise communities on various development issues including environmental conservation.

He said the government through his ministry was committed to the overall development of the nation, including the provision of services to various communities.

He therefore stated that their efforts to promote sustainable development would be in vain if they were unable to effectively deal with emerging global challenges of environmental degradation.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen mentioned that the launch of the campaign was a development that would assist in empowering communities to keep the environment clean and healthy.

He also pointed out that as society became more complex, with limited time at their disposal to effectively address a myriad of global challenges including illegal dumping, littering, waste pollution and deteriorating eco-systems, adding that such an initiative would go a long way in empowering communities in coming up with sustainable solutions to keep the surrounding clean and habitable.

He encouraged other stakeholders to do more in information, education and communications as part of a broader advocacy and stakeholder programme, especially on critical issues of waste management, pollution control and environmental conservation at local and national levels.

He said that wa because the urban and rural poor invariably bore a disproportionate share of the consequences of industrial waste and compromised eco-system.

Mr Van Der Westhuizen also stated that more education and planning were needed to effectively deal with the problem of environmental degradation.

The clean-up campaign launch was attended by representatives of members of councils from different council chairpersons, staff of different government officials and dikgosi. ENDS