29 Jul 2013

Francistown City Council said has engaged ward development committees (WDC) in the collection of waste as a way of keeping the city clean.

In an interview recently, city clerk, Mr Charles Amos said since April, the council suspended the picking of litter by private companies and instead engaged community members on a rotational basis similar to the Ipelegeng arrangement.

He said the council employees assessed and identified problem areas and ensured that they were attended to promptly. Mr Amos said the council would possibly engage Batswana to assist council with refuse collection trucks around the city should funds remain after purchase of refuse collection trucks.

The chairperson of the performance monitoring Committee (PMC), Councillor Ignatius Moswaane said litter collection in the city had improved though it was not yet up to the required standard. He said the councillors in collaboration with the staff were working on finding a permanent solution to the collection challenges.

Cllr Moswaane said with the current arrangement and close monitoring they anticipated a 90 per cent success in the next two months. In April, the city councillors convened a special full council to complain about poor service delivery and one of the burning issues was litter collection.

The councillors complained that the city was filthy and the only answer that the council had been given was that only one refuse collection truck was operational.

They further complained that service standards for residential refuse collection was seven days but in most cases, refuse was not collected for up to three months without any explanation from the council, yet residents were expected to pay rates and service levy.

The councillors suggested that the city council should emulate the North East District Council (NEDC) and engage the community in waste collection. ENDS