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

Changamoto kwenda katika miji safi na miji katika Tanzania yalionyesha

mjadala wa jukwaa kuwashirikisha wawakilishi wa wadau 42 kutoka idara za serikali kuu na serikali za mitaa, mashirika yasiyo ya kiserikali, chuo kikuu cha Dar es Salaam, vyombo vya makampuni na vyombo vya habari alimfufua wasiwasi juu ya kuongeza dirtiness ya miji yetu na miji na yalionyesha baadhi ya matatizo ya haraka ambayo yanahitaji kuwa kushughulikiwa na kuboresha hali hiyo.

mjadala wa jukwaa lililoandaliwa na Mtandao wa Nchi Tanzania Level Maarifa, CLK Net, saa Tanzania Global Kituo cha Mafunzo, IFM Dar es salaam, tarehe 17 Januari 2012, ilianza na mada risasi kutoka Bi Hildegarda L. Kiwasila, Mhadhiri Mwandamizi na Mtafiti kutoka Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam, Taasisi ya Tathmini ya Rasilimali. Yeye kiuchambuzi upya programu mbalimbali na miradi kuhusu usimamizi imara na kioevu taka Dar es salaam mji zimeenea, kuchunguza kwamba matokeo ya jumla umekuwa adimu kwa kiasi kikubwa na isiyokuwa endelevu, kama, mfano kwa mfano wa uchafu na maeneo ya afya ya hatari katika Dar es salaam mji ambao yeye mfano kutumia picha.

Baadhi ya changamoto muhimu lililotolewa zaidi katika kongamano ni pamoja na:

• Ukosefu wa kimkakati utekelezaji, ubunifu na badala yake ya matengenezo ya kushindwa 'biashara kama kawaida' kawaida ufumbuzi ';
• Upungufu wa uhamasishaji na uratibu wa watendaji muhimu ikiwa ni pamoja ya Taifa ya Usimamizi wa Mazingira (NEMC), asasi za kiraia, maji na huduma za usafi wa mazingira, jenereta kubwa taka, sekta binafsi na kadhalika;
• Maskini utekelezaji wa sheria na kanuni;
• Ukosefu wa mipango ya kimkakati ya usimamizi wa taka sanjari na ukuaji wa haraka wakazi mijini;
• Kukosekana kwa ushirikiano wa taasisi kama vile utaratibu wa kugawana rasilimali;
• Rushwa hasa katika utekelezaji wa sheria na ununuzi wa watoa huduma kwa mfano. kupoteza makampuni ya ukusanyaji;
• Upungufu wa ushiriki wa sekta binafsi katika utoaji wa huduma za umma;
• Juu - chini mbinu ya utekelezaji wa mradi;
• Upungufu wa uhuru wa Serikali za Mitaa na watendaji wengine wa ndani;
• Upungufu wa bajeti kwa ajili ya usimamizi wa taka katika Serikali za Mitaa;
• Kisiasa kuingiliwa katika majukumu ya kiufundi na kisheria wa Serikali za Mitaa, na
• Upungufu wa ushiriki wa viongozi wa ngazi ya chini na jamii.

matatizo ya sasa hizo zinatarajiwa hushitadi kwa kazi mbaya ya madhara ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa katika miundombinu na viwango vya bahari kupanda kwa maji, iliendelea haraka mijini idadi ya watu na matukio ya kuongezeka kwa umaskini mijini. Pia alibainisha kuwa tabia na mazoea ikiwa ni pamoja na littering, mashirika yasiyo ya kufuata sheria na kanuni, na kutokuwa na nia ya kulipa ada ya ukusanyaji taka itaendelea kiwanja changamoto usafi wa mazingira katika miji na miji.

Elimu ya umma, hitaji la muhimu katika utoaji mwanya wa salama tabia ya usimamizi wa taka na mazoea, ilikuwa ilipendekeza kama mkakati wa msingi pamoja na baadhi ya mikakati ya yafuatayo:

• Uboreshaji wa mipango miji ya maendeleo sanjari na idadi ya watu kuongezeka mijini;
• Uboreshaji wa bajeti kwa ajili ya utoaji wa huduma katika miji na miji, na ufanisi wa usimamizi wa rasilimali,
• Kuimarisha wajibu wa vyombo vya habari katika kuhamasisha umma.

Kusimamia taka ngumu na kukuza usafi wa mazingira ni maeneo muhimu katika shughuli COBIHESA ya. Hivyo, COBIHESA inakaribisha jukwaa na inatarajia kushiriki kikamilifu katika shughuli za baraza. shirika kazi na vikundi 6 mazingira ya jamii katika wilaya ya Kilwa juu ya usimamizi wa taka ngumu katika ukanda wa pwani, and10 mtaa ya eneo serikali katika manispaa ya Lindi. Kupitia msaada ReCoMaP / Tume ya Bahari ya Hindi, COBIHESA walishiriki katika maendeleo ya mkakati wa usimamizi wa taka ngumu kwa ajili ya Kilwa Masoko Kilwa Kivinje na miji mwaka 2011.

Katika kongamano, shirika iliwakilishwa na Bw Daudi Katusabe, Afisa Programu. Kuona ripoti ya jukwaa la miji safi na miji katika Tanzania, kutembelea www.clknet.or.tz