Placido Hilukilwa
OSHAKATI Town, that aims to become one of the cleanest towns in Namibia, has now introduced a fine for those who litter.
Addressing residents at the beginning of the annual cleaning campaign recently, Oshakati mayor Leonard Hango said that upon taking up their positions two years ago, the current Oshakati local authority councilors came up with a five year strategic plan that would ensure that the town is listed among the cleanest towns in Namibia.
However, he noted that the town’s cleanliness depends on the residents collaboration with the council.
To achieve the goal of being one of the cleanest towns in the Land of the Brave, the town council has now introduced a fine for littering in public spaces by throwing refuse on the ground instead of the refuse bin.
Owners of business premises that are unhygienic, full of clutter, grass and without a proper refuse bin will also be fined just like home owners who do not own a refuse bin, who have grass in their yards and who throw trash in the streets as well as plot owners who do not clear or de-bush their plots.
He pointed out that deliberating on this matter of issuing fines was not an easy task, but it was found to be the only viable way of enforcing cleanliness among the town’s residents.
This year’s annual cleaning campaign took place under the theme “Cleaner and Greener Oshakati”.
According to Hango, cleaning begins inside one’s residence and the backyard then moves up to include the street, the workplace and even the shopping mall.
The introduction of a fine for littering and general uncleanness follows on the heels of a N$1 000 fine for peeing in public announced by the police in the Oshana Region recently.
