The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, Prof. Riziki Shemdoe, has directed that environmental cleanliness be made a permanent agenda item in all meetings within local government authorities, saying it is key to improving public health and reducing government spending on disease treatment.
Prof. Shemdoe issued the directive on Monday in Dodoma while opening the first Annual Review Meeting on Solid Waste Management and Urban Cleanliness Interventions, which brought together regional health officers, council health officers and environmental officers.
He said cleanliness issues must be consistently discussed in statutory meetings at all levels, including Regional Consultative Committees, District Consultative Committees, Ward Development Committees, Council Full Council meetings, Council Standing Committees, as well as ALAT meetings at both regional and national levels.
“I insist that cleanliness must be an agenda in your meetings. This should be reflected in all structures of local government so that we build clean towns and cities,” said Prof. Shemdoe.
He said prioritising sanitation would help reduce outbreaks of preventable diseases and lower the government’s expenditure on medicines, noting that the savings could be redirected to development projects.
Prof. Shemdoe also commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for strengthening waste management systems, including the establishment of solid waste management units within local government authorities, which he said have improved coordination and service delivery.
He urged officials to work with dedication and professionalism to ensure effective implementation of waste management interventions.
On his part, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (Health), Prof. Tumaini Nagu, said proper waste management remains critical in preventing communicable diseases.
He said research shows that effective solid waste control can reduce diseases such as malaria and other sanitation-related illnesses by 30 to 40 per cent.
“This is a scientific fact showing that cleanliness is directly linked to public health outcomes,” said Prof. Nagu.
Speaking on behalf of participants, the Head of the Solid Waste Management Unit at Bahi District Council, William Mpangala, said councils are increasingly involving the private sector in waste collection and processing, which has improved efficiency in service delivery.
He said the collaboration has helped strengthen waste management systems in several local authorities across the country.
The meeting is being held under the theme: “Solid Waste is Wealth; Reuse, Recycle and Keep Cities Clean.”
