The Government has given cities and municipalities across the country two weeks to step up environmental cleanliness, with local authorities required to report back on the measures taken.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Prof Riziki Shemdoe, issued the directive on Monday, saying the campaign was part of efforts to implement President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s call for cleaner cities.
President Samia issued the directive on September 2 while swearing in newly appointed regional commissioners and regional administrative secretaries.
Prof Shemdoe issued the two-week deadline during a meeting with regional commissioners, regional administrative secretaries and other local government leaders from Dodoma, Mwanza, Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Arusha and Tanga.
The meeting also brought together district commissioners from areas with cities, mayors, city directors and directors of Dar es Salaam municipalities.
Prof Shemdoe said the campaign should go beyond temporary clean-up exercises and address some of the persistent problems affecting urban environments.
He directed all councils to prepare plans for the collection, treatment and disposal of solid and sludge waste and submit them to his office.
The directive comes as rapid urbanisation continues to put pressure on waste management systems, with poor collection and disposal threatening public health and the quality of urban life.
The Government also wants local authorities to tackle noise pollution, particularly in Dar es Salaam, where entertainment venues have become a major source of complaints in some areas.
Prof Shemdoe directed councils to work with the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) and the Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) to address the problem.
He cited Kinondoni Municipality as an area facing a significant challenge from noise generated by entertainment establishments.
The minister also ordered regional authorities to work with the Ministry of Home Affairs and regional police commanders to deal with vehicles and motorcycles fitted with modified exhaust systems that produce excessive noise.
Prof Shemdoe further directed regional authorities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands, to review public open spaces that have been allocated by the Government but are being occupied by permanent structures.
He said his office would not overlook the issue if the directive was not implemented.
In Kinondoni, the minister directed the municipality to develop a strategy to end street vending in unauthorised areas while ensuring traders are provided with designated places to conduct their businesses.
Prof Shemdoe said environmental cleanliness should no longer be treated as an occasional campaign.
He directed local government authorities to make cleanliness a permanent agenda item in village and ward meetings, council sessions, Regional Consultative Committees (RCCs), District Consultative Committees (DCCs) and other official meetings.
He also directed the PO-RALG Permanent Secretary to develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor cleanliness across councils, municipalities and cities.
The indicators will be used to assess and compare the performance of local authorities in maintaining clean urban environments.
Prof Shemdoe ordered the leaders to submit reports on the implementation of all the directives after two weeks.
The directive signals a shift from periodic clean-up campaigns towards stronger monitoring of local authorities, with cities expected to demonstrate measurable improvements in waste management, noise control and the protection of public spaces.