East Africa: Why Are Our Cities Left to Be Filthy?

editorial

Bujumbura and Kigali streets are cleaner than most other cities in East Africa. Its no wonder, they both have general cleaning days.On these days, the general public clean their areas of abode, the drainage, the roads leading to their homes, etc, and the city is also given a thorough sweep.

It may seem an inconvenience to those that are affected by the general shut down of the country, but this leaves these cities very clean on the set days. In Rwanda, there was a ban on polythene bags. This ban has continuously been enforced to such an extent that as your baggage is searched at the border or entry points at the airports, you are asked to dispose of this stuff.

This gives Kigali and the whole of Rwanda a polythene free look which is decidedly cleaner than other cities in the region. I believe other EAC countries should emulate them and put in place any or both of these measures to save our cities from dirt and disease.


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Comments 1 to 2 of 2 Post a comment

  • raymondkato04
    Sep 8 2010, 09:41

    filthiness may have a cause such as population, bussiness ventures and the trafic. alot has to be considered to qualify to be a city not only smartness. much as the above examples are clean, how many people are free to live there compared to for example kampala or nairobi?????

  • Steve Klaber
    Sep 7 2010, 10:11

    In the long run, this is the people's responsibility. This may be a good way to implement that. A clean environment is a major part of a community's wealth. You'll be richer for just a more pleasant place to live.