Zomba Deputy Mayor says promotion of hygiene everyone’s responsibility
The Zomba City deputy mayor Davie Maunde has said residents have a greater role to play in ensuring that promotion of hygiene in the city remains a priority.
Maunde, who is also councillor for Chinamwali Ward in Malawi’s eastern region city made the remarks after leading vendors from Chinamwali Market in removing garbage that mounted for about two months near the business area at the Trading Centre.
Zomba City Council (ZCC) officials and Mayor Joana Ntaja were also present and took part in sensitising the residents on the importance of hygiene.
In his speech, Maunde said residents could become prone to diseases if they are exposed to the stench garbage.
“If people fall sick, there could be slow development because they cannot participate fully. The core purpose of removing this garbage to the dumpsite is to promote hygiene at this market so that those who ply trade here and customers are not exposed to bad health,” he said.
The deputy mayor added that plans are in the pipeline to increase the number of toilets in order to maximise sanitation at the market.
Chinamwali Market chairperson Peter Malinda hailed the initiative in an interview with Nyasa Times.
“We are glad since this cleaning has come at a right time because this garbage has been here for sometime without the city officials coming to the rescue. We express our gratitude to our councillor and we ask others to emulate his example,” he said.
ZCC director of health and social services Gomezgani Nyasulu confessed that it has taken long for the city to remove the garbage at the market.
He said the garbage-removing vehicles broke down but quickly pointed out that the council has procured another one to make best use of its operations of the council.
