City of Windhoek aiming for a clean-and-green status

A BALANCE between the environment and economic development is essential for peace and sustainable development, says Environment and Tourism Deputy Minister Leon Jooste.

Jooste said on the occasion of World Environment Day that it was imperative to create environmentally friendly cities by providing clean drinking water, effective sanitation services and cleaner industries. Jooste was the main speaker at Windhoek’s World Environment Day celebration, held at the Zoo Park in the heart of the city yesterday.He said his Ministry, the City of Windhoek and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry had initiated an environmental management planning programme for the capital city.The programme would focus on cleaner production and urban environment planning, he said.The theme of year’s Environment Day was ‘Green Cities’, which Jooste said was particularly fitting for developing countries like Namibia, where population growth and urban migration present profound challenges to the environment.”In fact, the consequences that are associated with rapid urban population growth are considerable.These include waste generation, degradation of local water resources and air pollution,” he said.The movement of people from rural areas to towns and cities has led to the growth of informal settlements that are characterised by poverty, hunger and a lack of proper water and sanitation facilities, Jooste said.”This has created enormous challenges for our local authorities.”At the same occasion, Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo warned that the City Police would take strict action against litterbugs.The official message of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, read by Simon Nhongo of the United Nations Development Programme in Namibia, urged individuals, businesses and local and national governments to take up the challenge of making cities clean and green.Jooste was the main speaker at Windhoek’s World Environment Day celebration, held at the Zoo Park in the heart of the city yesterday.He said his Ministry, the City of Windhoek and the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry had initiated an environmental management planning programme for the capital city.The programme would focus on cleaner production and urban environment planning, he said.The theme of year’s Environment Day was ‘Green Cities’, which Jooste said was particularly fitting for developing countries like Namibia, where population growth and urban migration present profound challenges to the environment.”In fact, the consequences that are associated with rapid urban population growth are considerable.These include waste generation, degradation of local water resources and air pollution,” he said.The movement of people from rural areas to towns and cities has led to the growth of informal settlements that are characterised by poverty, hunger and a lack of proper water and sanitation facilities, Jooste said.”This has created enormous challenges for our local authorities.”At the same occasion, Windhoek Mayor Matheus Shikongo warned that the City Police would take strict action against litterbugs.The official message of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, read by Simon Nhongo of the United Nations Development Programme in Namibia, urged individuals, businesses and local and national governments to take up the challenge of making cities clean and green.