Challenges towards cleaner cities and towns in Tanzania highlighted

A forum discussion involving 42 stakeholder representatives from central and local government departments, NGOs, the university of Dar es salaam, corporate entities and the media has raised concern over the increasing dirtiness of our cities and towns and highlighted some of the immediate problems that need to be addressed to improve the situation.

The forum discussion hosted by the Tanzania Country Level Knowledge Network, CLK Net, at the Tanzania Global Learning Centre, IFM Dar es salaam, on 17 January 2012, started with a lead presentation from Ms. Hildegarda L. Kiwasila, a Senior Lecturer and Researcher from the University of Dar es Salaam, Institute of Resource Assessment . She analytically reviewed the different programmes and projects regarding solid and liquid waste management that Dar es salaam city has gone through, observing that the overall outcome had been largely unsatisfactory and unsustainable, as exemplified by the pattern of filth and   health risk sites in Dar es salaam city which she illustrated using photographs.

Some of the key challenges raised at the forum include:

• Lack of strategic, innovative interventions and instead maintenance of failed casual ‘business as usual’ solutions’;
•  Inadequate mobilisation and coordination of key actors including the National Environment Management Council (NEMC), CSOs, water and sanitation utilities, major waste generators, the private sector etc.; 
• Poor enforcement of laws and regulations;
•  Lack of waste management strategic plans commensurate with the rapid urban population growth; 
• Lack of institutional collaboration as well as mechanism for resource sharing;
•  Corruption particularly in law enforcement and procurement of service providers eg. waste collection companies; 
• Inadequate involvement of private sector in public service delivery; 
• Top – down approach to project implementation; 
• Inadequate autonomy of LGAs and other local actors ; 
• Inadequate budget lines for waste management in LGAs; 
• Political interference in the technical and legal responsibilities of the LGAs; and 
• Inadequate involvement of grassroots leaders and communities.

 The current problems are expected to be aggravated by adverse climate change impacts on infrastructure and rising sea water levels, continued rapid urban population growth and the growing incidence of urban poverty. It was also noted that behaviours and practices including littering, non compliance with laws and regulations, and unwillingness to pay waste collection fees will continue to compound environmental cleanness challenges in towns and cities.

 Public education, a key requirement in the continuum for adoption of safer waste management behaviours and practices, was recommended as a basic strategy along with some of the following strategies:

•  Improvement of urban development planning commensurate with the increasing urban population;
•  Improvement of budgetary allocation for service provision in the towns and cities, and effective management of resources,
•  Enhancement of the role of the mass media in raising public awareness.

 Solid waste management and sanitation promotion are key areas in COBIHESA’s activities. Thus, COBIHESA welcomes the forum and intends to participate fully in the forum activities. The organisation works with 6 community environment groups in Kilwa district on solid waste management in the coastal zone, and10 mtaa local area governments in Lindi municipality. Through ReCoMaP/ Indian Ocean Commission support, COBIHESA participated in the development of a solid waste management strategy for Kilwa Masoko and Kilwa Kivinje towns in 2011.

At the forum, the organisation was represented by Mr David Katusabe, Programme Officer. To view the forum report on clean cities and towns in Tanzania, visit www.clknet.or.tz