Opinion / Columnist
Ensuring clean environment is individual responsibility
02 Sep 2018 at 12:14hrs | Views
All though we take it for granted, sanitation is a physical measure that has probably done more to increase human life span than any kind of drug or surgery (Deepak Chopra). The word sanitation also refers to the maintenance of hygienic conditions, through services such as garbage collection and wastewater disposal.
Zimbabwe has become engulfed in filth. Almost every street and gutter in our communities is choked with solid and liquid waste. There is so much negligence and no show of concern when people are disposing off refuse generated at homes and workplaces. Rubbish and waste materials are haphazardly dumped anywhere in the environment, spreading deadly diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and malaria.
Several measures by successive legislators to curb this national menace have not yielded the desired results.
clean up campaigns and environmental awareness programs have been put up by government and various private sector companies and NGOs to make Zimbabwe a clean and safe environmentally friendly country.
However, most Zimbabweans seem not to recognize the importance of sanitation in the country as they show no interest in the clean-up exercises and are, therefore, reluctant to participate. This apathetic attitude, is hampering the government's intend of making zimbabwe the cleanest country in Africa.
Zimbabweans must show commitment when it comes to sanitation since cleaning our communities will help reduce conditions that breed diseases such as cholera.
Natural disasters such as flood may also be prevented when drains and gutters are cleared for running water to pass freely.
The horrors of Gweru and Chitungwiza are enough to remind us on the dangers of living in dirty surroundings. Environmental cleanliness begins with each individual's desire to be cleaned. If we desire to be close to God, we should desire to dwell in clean soul with a clean body in a clean environment.
We must know that sanitation is individual responsibility and not necessarily the duty of the government, even though there is the need to fight it together.
Individuals must avoid dumping refuse and defecating at open places. But for individuals to avoid dumping refuse and defecating at open places, government must also implement sanitation policies and ensure enforcement of sanitation regulations.
Several measures by successive legislators to curb this national menace have not yielded the desired results.
clean up campaigns and environmental awareness programs have been put up by government and various private sector companies and NGOs to make Zimbabwe a clean and safe environmentally friendly country.
However, most Zimbabweans seem not to recognize the importance of sanitation in the country as they show no interest in the clean-up exercises and are, therefore, reluctant to participate. This apathetic attitude, is hampering the government's intend of making zimbabwe the cleanest country in Africa.
Zimbabweans must show commitment when it comes to sanitation since cleaning our communities will help reduce conditions that breed diseases such as cholera.
Natural disasters such as flood may also be prevented when drains and gutters are cleared for running water to pass freely.
The horrors of Gweru and Chitungwiza are enough to remind us on the dangers of living in dirty surroundings. Environmental cleanliness begins with each individual's desire to be cleaned. If we desire to be close to God, we should desire to dwell in clean soul with a clean body in a clean environment.
We must know that sanitation is individual responsibility and not necessarily the duty of the government, even though there is the need to fight it together.
Individuals must avoid dumping refuse and defecating at open places. But for individuals to avoid dumping refuse and defecating at open places, government must also implement sanitation policies and ensure enforcement of sanitation regulations.
Source - Erick Matotoba
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