28 Aug 2019

 Maun Administrative Authority has used over P5 million on waste management since the beginning of this financial year.

Updating councillors on health services, council chairperson, Mr Moedi Modiegi said the used budget was illustrative of the council’s commitment in building resilient communities with clean, healthy and safe environments.

The council embarked on activities such as grass cutting, tree de-stumping and street sweeping in and around major roads to uplift the appeal of Maun village.

He pleaded with communities to join in the effort to clean Maun with the recognition that the council could not do it alone.

Mr Modiegi also pointed out that the council had just completed a bin survey coverage, and that the results depicted that only 10 per cent of residents owned a waste receptacles.

The study, he said, was also critical in establishing the number of households since council had taken a decision to embark on a universal collection of refuse from all households. 

He urged every member of the community to assist as much as possible in the acquisition of refuse bins.

He also appreciated some organisations in Maun for responding positively to the need to provide refuse bins, citing the Civil Aviation Authority Botswana and Railey’s Garage which had donated 40 and 359 refuse bins respectively.

“We are grateful for the gesture as it shows that our concern with waste management is shared by others. I am calling upon everyone left behind to join in the concern and make an effort to clean Maun,” he added.

The council, he said, had made a commitment to work with various sectors of society to secure safer and cleaner communities, adding that it had resulted in the formation of upkeep committees within wards.

Mr Modiegi observed that they had also interacted with informal traders to address issues of cleanliness.

 He added that they too were important stakeholders in driving the economy and to preserving a cleaner environment.

He stated that it was time that the council stimulated public awareness campaigns to encourage responsiveness to waste management issues. 

He noted that efforts had been made to measure public opinion on waste management services rendered.

In addition, he said there was a waste management collection schedule for various wards which could be accessed through the council Facebook page. In intensifying environmental education, the chairperson pointed out that Thamalakane and Moremi primary schools had been chosen to pioneer waste segregation.

He said the idea was to instill a positive mindset to learners at an early stage. 

Mr Modiegi said their intention was to roll out the programme to the rest of the schools in due course. Ends