20 May 2026

The informal sector in Francistown has been lauded for its dedicated involvement in the National clean-up initiative.

Francistown District Commissioner, Ms Chabongwa Matseka commended the sector for rising to the occasion to keep the city clean since the start of the national clean-up campaign.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, she noted that since the campaign’s inception, members of the informal sector, including hawkers and street vendors had been consistent in taking part in the monthly clean-up activities.

She also mentioned that several stakeholders were also stepping up with contributions, such as providing resources like refuse bags, gloves and dustbins.

However, Ms Matseka urged more entities to join the effort, emphasising that teamwork was essential for the success of the initiative.

As the main goal of the project is to create cleaner environments and enhance local surroundings, Ms Matseka indicated that Francistown leaders convened with stakeholders to develop strategies and identified hotspots, which needed collaboration, such as the bus rank.

However, she pointed out that though Francistown’s monthly clean-up campaign was beginning to yield visible improvements, there was still a need for greater public awareness to sustain the momentum.

“Since it began, there has been a slight improvement. Streets and public spaces in certain areas of the city are noticeably cleaner, and community involvement is gradually increasing,” she noted.

Despite progress, Ms Matseka called for continuous public education due to low participation levels.

“The turnout does not meet our expectations; people come in small numbers due to social obligations like funerals and weddings on Saturdays, which is why clean-ups need to be scheduled for mornings,” she explained.

Ms Matseka therefore, encouraged community members to start by cleaning their immediate environments at home and work.

Another issue she highlighted was the persistent problem of garden waste, which she said was not disposed carefully.

Additionally, she addressed concerns regarding individuals who relieved themselves  in public spaces and urged members of the community to refrain from such behaviour.

The national clean up campaign is an initiative by President Advocate Duma Boko and is undertaken every second Saturday of the month. So far the campaign is nearly six months since its inception. ENDS