01 Oct 2019

The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Development, Mr Vincent Seretse, says World Habitat Day brings attention to the need to promote sustainable urban development.

Addressing media recently, Mr Seretse said the day provided an opportunity for dialogue on key human settlements issues as well as allowing stakeholders to come up with concrete initiatives and strategies to address waste management challenges. 

He said the commemoration of the day also offered stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on the state of human settlements.

 Mr Seretse noted that the commemoration, which is scheduled for Hukuntsi on October 7, also reminded all that they had a role to play in influencing the human habitat. 

Each year a new theme is issued by UN Habitat to draw attention to different issues affecting human settlements and this year’s commemoration would be held under the theme: Frontier Technologies: An innovative tool to transform waste to wealth. 

The minister said this year’s theme encouraged people to see opportunities in existing waste, by turning it into wealth through various means including the use of technologies. 

He said this would not only be a waste management approach, but an economically stimulating approach to waste management. 

“We all know that waste is fast becoming a threat to the environment as well as to public health, and it is further worsened by rapid urbanisation and economic development,” Mr Seretse stated. 

Botswana, he said, continued to experience waste management challenges, with the latest statistics showing that 76 per cent of households in cities received regular waste collection, while regular collection of waste in rural areas was 14 per cent. 

Mr Seretse said district councils experienced a growing concern of littering, burning of waste, indiscriminate disposal of waste along roadsides and illegal dumping of waste in the outskirts; all of which pose a threat to health as they affect ambient air quality and water quality. 

Therefore, he said there was need to improve the situation for the health and wellbeing of people and their habitat. 

He indicated that the day also encourages all levels of government and stakeholders to see how best to implement concrete initiatives that will ensure sustainable waste management. 

He noted that this is crucial in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda as well as the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); especially SDG 11, which envisions cities and human settlements that are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. 

In addition, Minister Seretse noted SDG 12, which encourages ‘sustainable production and consumption targeting, calls for environmentally sound management of all waste through prevention, recycling, reuse and the reduction of food waste. 

He said as a signatory to these global agreements, it is important for Botswana to take action to achieve them. 

For his part, Kgalagadi District Council deputy chairperson, Mr Aidoo Leshope, said the commemoration’s organising committee was way ahead in preparations, revealing that they had engaged small businesses to empower them through the event. 

ENDS