By: Julia Heita
Corporate companies, including the City of Windhoek, have pledged N$750 000 towards a three-month-long cleaning campaign.
MTC, in collaboration with the City of Windhoek, Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) and Namibia National Reinsurance Corporation (NamibRe), launched the cleaning initiative this morning in Windhoek, Katutura.
The partners, of which MTC contributed N$ 400 000, City of Windhoek N$200 000, EIF N$100 000 and NamibRe N$75 000, have committed a combined value of N$ 750 000 towards the campaign as well as planting trees.
The cleaning campaign aims to restore the city to its former glory and reclaim its title as the cleanest city in Africa.
Research done by Yale University based on the environmental Performance Index revealed that Namibia is ranked 10th among the cleanest countries in Africa, down from the number one position it held for a number of years. Currently, Rwanda is the leading country.
During the launch, MTC’s Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer, Tim Ekandjo, said that
this is not just another cleaning up campaign but rather thee cleaning up drive that is going to revolutionize the city because it will ensure to educate of the citizens on the importance of cleanliness
He said they would need to change people’s minds and hearts about cleanliness.
“Hence, this campaign is not a one-day event where we clean up and go. We want it to be different in the sense that it changes our mindsets about how we see cleanliness and what our responsibilities are.”
The campaign was launched in Kilimanjaro, an informal settlement in Windhoek. In this regard, Ekandjo said Windhoek is not defined as Grove mall or Wernhill Park, “the city means every corner of the city including Kilimanjaro and our clean up campaign will reach every corner of the city”.
Ekandjo said they call on every Namibian, not just Windhoek residents, to play a part in making Namibia a clean country.
At the same event, Windhoek mayor Sade Gawanas said that one of the essential things in regard to cleanliness is the mindset of residents; she pleaded that everyone living in Windhoek has a change of attitude and change their mindsets when it comes to the environment.
“Because I believe that once you have a conducive environment, within a clean environment, within an environment where you have space, fresh air. That conducive environment allows you to open up your mind.”
Gawanas notified the residents of the city about responsible waste disposal.
She said residents and taxpayers must value and remember that the beauty and long-term sustainability of the city depend on unity.
“To move away from a culture of illegal dumping and littering, and move towards a more environmentally sensitive culture and adopt a circular economy model.”
She further added that a compelling need exists to change mindsets and behaviour.
Elizabeth Nailenge of Namibre shared the same point of view on the importance of cleanliness and respecting and protecting the environment through a sustainable initiative aimed at preserving the environment.
Nailing said that the contribution by NamibRe is also going towards the procurement of trees, “we want to encourage sustainability and climate change mitigation.”
