Francis Ayieko
12 October 2008
Nairobi — A decade-long effort by Rwanda to turn its capital Kigali into a modern metropolis with efficient garbage collection, non-use of plastics and a low crime rate, has finally paid off in the United Nations honouring the city for its innovativeness.
Kigali now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with four other Chinese, Russian and Mexican cities, which were also given the same award.
The award, presented by UN-Habitat during this year's World Habitat Day, recognised Kigali for innovations in building a model, modern city characterised by zero tolerance for plastics, improved garbage collection and a substantial reduction in crime.
Also honoured were the Chinese cities of Shaoxing and Zhangjiagang, the Tatarstan city of Bugulma, in the Russian Federation, and Ciudad Juarez, a major Mexican city on the United States border.
The highest award conferred by the United Nations system in the field of habitation -- the Habitat Scroll of Honour Special Citation -- went to the Chinese city of Nanjing.
Kigali's journey to realising its "restoration-to-lost glory" dream started in 1998 with the targeting of garbage collection, and the banning of plastic bags. The streets and pavements were beautified, and public transport was upgraded.
Other areas included improvement of the sewage system and slum upgrading. The results? "In just one decade, Kigali has been transformed into a place to which people come from all corners of the world to see and learn how they can replicate the Kigali modernisation and urban conservation model at home," a statement from the UN-Habitat headquarters in Nairobi said last week.
Kigali was devastated during the 1994 genocide that left over 800,000 people dead in over just 100 days.
According to the statement, the cities that have been honoured may have the best solutions to the global financial crisis that currently has everybody worrying about their housing financing and mortgages in the United States and other developed countries.
"All the winners have some answers when it comes to the financial crisis. All show that government has to take the lead and show commitment when it comes to affordable housing," said Anna Tibaijuka, executive director of UN-Habitat and Under-Secretary-General of the UN.
Mrs Tibaijuka announced the prizes during this year's global celebration of World Habitat Day held in Luanda, Angola.
She also commended Angola for its national reconstruction programme and the delivery of new roads, bridges, railways and other infrastructure either damaged or destroyed during the war.
The World Habitat Day prizes are conferred upon cities, governmental and non-governmental organisations, local authorities, public, private and research bodies, or individuals for outstanding achievements in the cause of sustainable human settlements. The prize constitutes global recognition of a city's achievements.
The Nanjing municipal government was awarded the 2008 Habitat Scroll of Honour Special Citation "for its bold, distinct, exemplary and comprehensive redevelopment, revitalisation and improvement" along the Qinhuai River which runs through Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province.
In November, Nanjing will host the fourth session of the World Urban Forum, the world's premier conference on cities.
In response to a growing public outcry over the health dangers posed by industrial and human pollution of the river, the government backed a comprehensive improvement and redevelopment programme.
It delivered affordable housing for thousands, new flood prevention measures, the relocation of business and industries to better sites, and a new waste management system.
It also provided new conservation measures for the city's historic sites, and new landscaping with recreation facilities blending in with the natural environment.
It further provided decent alternative accommodation for those who lost their land to the new developments.
UN-Habitat's Water for Asian Cities Programme worked with the city to improve its water and sanitation systems with a $100 million Asian Development Bank loan.
On the other hand, the ancient canal city of Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province, eastern China, received the Habitat Scroll of Honour Award "for preserving a unique cultural and historical heritage at a time of rapid urbanisation."
The city, which dates back to 490 BC, is known variously as the City of Waters, the City of Bridges, the City of Calligraphy, the City of Tea, and the City of Scholars.
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