Govt, local mobile phone operator organise clean-up campaign in Dar

The Ministry of State in the Vice-President’s Office (Environment), in collaboration with mobile phone service operator Tigo, has organized a campaign under which some areas in Kinondoni District will be cleaned on Saturdays with a view to collecting over 4,000 tonnes of garbages.

The exercise, which kicked off recently at Magomeni hospital through Morogoro road, aims at sensitizing the people to stop indiscriminate disposals of garbage and instead build the habit of keeping the environment clean.

Speaking to journalists during the clean-up, campaign minister in the Vice-President's Office (Environment) Dr Terezya Huvisa said the campaign would be sustainable, adding that after Kinondoni it would involve another district in the region.

She thanked Tigo for following up on their pledge to keep the city's environment clean.

“We can clearly see that the company is making huge efforts to ensure our city's environment is clean. It’s a challenge for other organizations,” she said.

Huvisa said the campaign was intended to sensitize and remind the community and local governments on what they should do in their localities regarding cleanliness.

“We are doing this to sensitize the people to keep the city clean by stopping dumping garbages in the drainage systems and other areas,” she said.

The minister said it was possible for communities to make the city clean if they collaborate with the responsible authorities and make sure that everybody is involved. She said by so doing the city’s dirty condition would soon be history.

For her part, Tigo customer care officer Harriet Lwakatare said the company planned to support the community in various aspects. “This is the beginning, but in future we have many initiatives in store that are aimed at supporting communities lead a better life,” she said.

She said Tigo wanted to see the community living a better life in a good environment. “When you live in a clean environment you guard your body against illness, and hence you are in a better position to engage in various productive activities,” Lwakatare said.

The Vice-President’s Office has set every first Saturday of the month, from 7am to 10am, to be clean-up time in all towns in the country.