Kawambwa residents urged to improve on waste management
ENVIRONMENTBy ZPP Newsroom
Source: Lusaka Times
Kawambwa Town Council Secretary George Biemba has made a passionate appeal to residents of the district to urgently improve their waste management practices as the nation braces for the onset of the rainy season. Speaking from the council headquarters, Mr. Biemba emphasized that proactive community participation is vital in preventing environmental degradation and averting potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery, which historically plague poorly managed settlements during heavy downpours. Mr. Biemba noted that improper disposal of solid waste, indiscriminate littering, and blocked drainage systems pose severe public health hazards. When the rains begin, accumulated garbage is frequently washed into local water sources and stagnant pools, creating breeding grounds for vectors and contaminating vital water supplies. The local authority has therefore stepped up its sensitization campaigns, urging households and business owners alike to take personal and collective responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in their immediate surroundings. The call from the council executive highlights ongoing structural and infrastructural challenges faced by local authorities across Zambia's growing districts. Rapid urbanization and expanding townships often outpace municipal garbage collection capacities, leaving local councils heavily reliant on community cooperation and compliance with health bylaws. In Kawambwa, municipal authorities are stressing that cleaner public spaces and unblocked water channels are critical not only for public health but also for safeguarding the aesthetic and commercial appeal of the district's growing Central Business District. Furthermore, the local authority has signaled its intention to crack down on illegal dumping sites and enforce existing environmental regulations more strictly. Residents and commercial entities found flouting waste management protocols risk facing punitive measures under local government legisl