This month’s Maseru City Council hlabahlabane cleaning campaign was held at Katlehong. The water utility (WASCO), community members, Members of Parliament from Khubetsoana and Motimposo and Khathang Tema Baitšokoli association had partnered with the municipality in this community mobilisation initiative which aims to promote healthy living and clean environment.
The Mayor of Maseru, her lordship Mpho Moloi stated that the campaign fulfills part of the municipality mandate to keep Maseru city clean, and as the MCC it is their duty to walk the talk. Mrs. ‘Mantai Phaila, Town Clerk indicated that during these monthly community work campaigns, the MCC employees and partners go out to sweep the major streets and unblock trenches in earmarked areas. “We are promoting the habit of cleaning within the different communities of Maseru, and in some areas like Thetsane we have a success story where villagers go out quarterly to clean the streets,” said Mrs. Phaila.
This is the first time WASCO has participated in the hlabahlabane. Its main role is to support the municipality efforts in promoting clean environment; as pollution of water sources and dumping of solid waste on water and sewer infrastructure continues to wreck havoc on water supply and sewerage services. This eventually leads to sewer blockages, pipe leakages and delayed maintenance works as teams have to clean the environment first before embarking on pipe maintenance.
In addition, the water utility is partnering in this initiative not only to educate the public about protection of water sources, health and hygiene but also to introspect by making an environmental assessment in identifying among others leakages, blockages, poor trench and excavation practices that maybe hazardous to the environment.
Mr. Tšolo Lebitsa of Khathang Tema Baitšokoli, hailed the initiative as a good practice which should also be adopted at all places especially bus stop areas where their working spaces are ricked by foul smell and dumping of solid waste everywhere. He said, “for us as small business owners who mostly handle food, have partnered with MCC because if we do not promote habits of clean working environment we may be exposed to all kinds of diseases and our customers may eventually shun our services if we continue to work in insanitary conditions.”
Maseru City Council set aside the second Friday of every month to roll out activities which include cleaning and environmental activism, payment of rates and building permit applications.
