Rundu Beach Project Fails Dismally
ANYBODY visiting the Rundu beach and especially the Rundu river side and the floodplain should be shocked by the litter that spreads deep into the flood plain, while car washing activities continue right up to Sarasungu lodge, 5 km from the newly fenced beach.
Yes, the main (former white Rundu beach) has been fenced off again
apparently to assure better maintenance and stop cars being washed
in the river.
This donor-sponsored upgrading was part of a floodplain scheme
to keep the area clean and preserve the precious Rundu floodplain
for the next generations as an important natural resource area
which will produce income through tourism.
However, what we observe now is a total failure of that
project.
I wonder how many millions of dollars have been wasted for this?
And why was there no permanent or resident co-ordinator in charge
of it in Rundu so that the scheme was integrated into Rundu's solid
waste management scheme.
First: The litter usually concentrated around a small spot (now
fenced off) is now spreading towards former almost untouched beach
areas.
The result of the project is the opposite of what was
expected.
Second: Apart form the infrastructure and money spent on reports
no programme was planned on social marketing which could have
concentrated on how to limit littering, keep the beach clean
through campaigns and signboards appealing to residents not to
litter the beautiful green landscape.
Not a single dollar was spent on dustbins outside the fenced
area.
Third: Who came up with the fencing solution? Are we going back
to Apartheid policies where public spaces are fenced and kept
clean, while the rest of the beach is neglected or even destroyed
(because that is what is happening now).
Instead of asking N$10 to enter (N$5 per person plus N$5 per
car), the operator who got the tender could have made money through
putting a commission on the beers or food sold, on boat trips,
toilets used etc.
Instead he decided to ask an entrance fee.
The setting up of a fence by the donor actually encouraged this
behaviour.
I suggest the following solution, get rid of the fence and
implement a decent sustainable floodplain management policy with an
aggressive anti-littering programme and improved solid waste
management, which must be extended to the floodplain.
It is not the small integrated low-input farming activities that
threaten the floodplain but a project that plans to turn the plains
it into a dumping place and amusement park.
I remember the floodplain meeting in 2001 where we were told
about the possibilities of the introduction of small game and
educational walking trails.
Where is all that now? Unless the plastic bags and beer and soft
drink bottles are removed, cattle and/or game will be in danger,
and tourists will avoid the place (forever I'm afraid).
Most tourists visiting the place are not impressed by the fence
at Rundu Beach, which is spoiling their view, and they are shocked
by the litter around the river, spreading far beyond the upgraded
beach.
I appeal to the donor and the Rundu Town Council to reconsider
the way they currently manage the beach and to keep our plains
attractive to tourists.
Otherwise the Rundu floodplain will be lost forever.
The fencing off of the Rundu Beach did not solve the problem,
but on the contrary made it worse by increasing pollution
throughout the floodplains.
- Paulo Zemeke Dasilva - Rundu
This donor-sponsored upgrading was part of a floodplain scheme to
keep the area clean and preserve the precious Rundu floodplain for
the next generations as an important natural resource area which
will produce income through tourism. However, what we observe now
is a total failure of that project. I wonder how many millions of
dollars have been wasted for this? And why was there no permanent
or resident co-ordinator in charge of it in Rundu so that the
scheme was integrated into Rundu's solid waste management scheme.
First: The litter usually concentrated around a small spot (now
fenced off) is now spreading towards former almost untouched beach
areas. The result of the project is the opposite of what was
expected. Second: Apart form the infrastructure and money spent on
reports no programme was planned on social marketing which could
have concentrated on how to limit littering, keep the beach clean
through campaigns and signboards appealing to residents not to
litter the beautiful green landscape. Not a single dollar was spent
on dustbins outside the fenced area. Third: Who came up with the
fencing solution? Are we going back to Apartheid policies where
public spaces are fenced and kept clean, while the rest of the
beach is neglected or even destroyed (because that is what is
happening now). Instead of asking N$10 to enter (N$5 per person
plus N$5 per car), the operator who got the tender could have made
money through putting a commission on the beers or food sold, on
boat trips, toilets used etc. Instead he decided to ask an entrance
fee. The setting up of a fence by the donor actually encouraged
this behaviour. I suggest the following solution, get rid of the
fence and implement a decent sustainable floodplain management
policy with an aggressive anti-littering programme and improved
solid waste management, which must be extended to the floodplain.
It is not the small integrated low-input farming activities that
threaten the floodplain but a project that plans to turn the plains
it into a dumping place and amusement park. I remember the
floodplain meeting in 2001 where we were told about the
possibilities of the introduction of small game and educational
walking trails. Where is all that now? Unless the plastic bags and
beer and soft drink bottles are removed, cattle and/or game will be
in danger, and tourists will avoid the place (forever I'm afraid).
Most tourists visiting the place are not impressed by the fence at
Rundu Beach, which is spoiling their view, and they are shocked by
the litter around the river, spreading far beyond the upgraded
beach. I appeal to the donor and the Rundu Town Council to
reconsider the way they currently manage the beach and to keep our
plains attractive to tourists. Otherwise the Rundu floodplain will
be lost forever. The fencing off of the Rundu Beach did not solve
the problem, but on the contrary made it worse by increasing
pollution throughout the floodplains.- Paulo Zemeke Dasilva - Rundu