The National Environment Management Council (NEMC) has urged bus owners and passengers to maintain cleanliness on the roads. The council said littering and urinating along roads remain a challenge that harms both health and the environment.
NEMC Director General, Dr. Immaculate Sware Semesi, said some passengers on long- and short-distance buses have developed poor habits of throwing waste outside vehicles and relieving themselves on the roadside.
She said this behavior pollutes the environment and risks spreading diseases.
“Clean surroundings are a right for every Tanzanian. Protecting the environment is our shared duty. Littering and urinating along the road are against the law,” she said.
She urged bus operators to provide bins in their vehicles and ensure passengers use them.
The council warned that anyone found breaking the law will face penalties, including fines. Dr. Semesi also appealed to citizens to act as ambassadors of cleanliness.
“If we take action now, we can protect our health and safeguard the environment for future generations,” she said.
Environmental analysts note that Tanzania is struggling with growing waste management challenges, especially in fast-growing towns and along busy highways.
Poor disposal practices contribute to pollution in rivers, block drainage systems, and create breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other disease-causing vectors.
This increases public health risks, including malaria, cholera, and other waterborne diseases.
The government has been encouraging local councils and transport operators to improve sanitation facilities, but enforcement has been weak.
Many highways still lack adequate public toilets and waste collection points. This gap has contributed to the persistence of roadside littering and open urination.
NEMC’s warning comes at a time when the government is stepping up campaigns on environmental protection to support sustainable development.
Enviromentalists argue that without stronger cooperation between authorities, transport operators, and passengers, it will be difficult to keep public spaces clean.
The council has provided a toll-free number, 0800 110 115, for the public to report pollution caused by passengers, industries, or individuals. The line is part of a wider initiative to strengthen monitoring and involve communities in environmental protection.
