Tsumeb residents face stiff littering fines

The Tsumeb municipality has set stiff penalties and rules for residents who fail to carry out proper waste management.

Residents who fail to manage waste would be liable to a fine of between N$2 000 and N$2 500, starting this month.

Frans Enkali, the town’s chief executive, says the municipality noted with growing concern the dumping of domestic waste around the skip containers positioned within the town area.

“This is an illegal act as domestic waste is only allowed to be placed in the refuse bins. The skip containers are meant for garden refuse only,” he says.

Enkali further urges the residents to place domestic waste in their refuse bins, which are collected every Monday, in addition to when a public holiday falls on a Monday, i which case collection is done on the following day.

“Residents are strongly cautioned to refrain from dumping refuse in open areas or on vacant plots. Such illegal actions are in contravention of the regulations relating to refuse removal, littering, and dumping under the Local Authorities Act of 1992 (as amended), and are punishable by a fine ranging from N$2 000 to N$2 500,” he says.

Enkali says photographic evidence will be used to fine residents.

Tsumeb resident Oumakie Angolo says the streets are littered with trash everywhere.

“I don’t know whether to blame the municipality or the residents, because our town is dirty and it looks bad – especially to visitors. Sometimes the municipality goes for weeks without collecting the refuse and the streets get littered with trash.

“Anyone found dumping their refuse in the streets should be fined, and it is our responsibility as residents to keep the town clean at all times,” she says.

Another resident, Mathews Kapanga, commends the municipality for taking drastic measures to fine residents for littering and dumping refuse in the streets.

He says Tsumeb is a tourist destination town, hence residents must ensure they keep the streets clean at all times.

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