KEEMANSHOOP – As part of its objective to make the environment in the southern town attractive for tourists, the Keetmanshoop municipality, with assistance from the Namibian Defence Force and volunteer residents, cleaned up Extension 7 recently.
Event organiser Sherina Witbooi from the municipality’s electricity business unit said the reason for targeting Extension 7 is because it is situated along the national road. Thus, the unoccupied open piece of land should portray a good image for tourists and visitors who are using the road when entering the town.
“It is unfortunate that due to budgetary constraints, council could not put up enough pit latrines for residents of informal settlements to use, and some of the less-fortunate residents use the open area to relieve themselves,” she noted.
Witbooi added that council extended the campaign with a day to allow residents to clean in and around their erven as a contribution to promoting a clean environment.
Residents put their refuse in plastic bags and placed it outside their erven, and the municipality removed it at no cost.
“This was also an opportunity for them to get rid of all unwanted materiasl and items on their erven,” she said.
Witbooi observed that this clean-up campaign only happened once annually, but the public and environmental health department is planning to have two more clean-up events during October and early December this year.
On the importance of such campaigns, she reasoned that living in a clean environment promotes good health and that a clean, tidy environment should also be created for the benefit of future generations.
Witbooi thanked all stakeholders who were involved in the operation, specifically the business community for sponsoring water, juice, food parcels and equipment to make it a success.
Unam Southern campus education student Sylvanus Kock said they participated as part of an assignment dealing with environmental health and curbing pollution.
“It is also my plea to residents not to litter their areas, as the cleaning of the environment contributes towards a healthy lifestyle,” he added.
Ileni informal settlement resident Thusnelde Gurures said she participated in the exercise as an example for her children to emulate.
“It is also to keep this specific area clean as tourists and visitors are passing by daily, and will be reluctant to come again or spend their money in town if the open space is dirty and unhealthy,” she noted.
Gurures thus urged young and old to actively partake in such cleaning campaigns, as it can benefit them in many ways.
– sklukowski@nepc.com.na
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