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 – RunduThis 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
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