LCC procures four self-tipping tractors for solid waste collection THE Livingstone City Council (LCC) with the help of the Ministry of Local Government and Housing has procured four self-tipping tractors meant to enhance waste management in the city.
Speaking in an interview with the Lusaka Star, LCC Public Relations Manager Emmauel Sikanyika said LCC has had a challenge in the past in terms of waste management and that the garbage trucks that were in use at the present were aging and had outlived their usefulness.
“We have had a challenge in solid waste management in the city and am happy to say that government is responding very well to our request to procure more equipment so that we as LCC can perform our task well of waste collection and disposal,” Mr. Sikanyika explained.
The Public Relations Manager was expectant that the acquisition of the tractors would double LCC’s capacity to get rid of garbage in the tourist capital.
“We want to brand ourselves as a tourist city and government has pumped in a lot of money into Livingstone and we have to ensure that these developments are well taken care of," Mr. Sikanyika said.
Mr. Sikanyika said that it was LCC's hope that the 50 HP range tractors which were purchased at a cost of KR 750, 000 would double the councils' effort to get rid of garbage in the city and exceed public expectations.
Mr. Sikanyika further thanked the Ministry of Local Government and Housing for its support in the procurement of the tractors.
And in relation to the enhancement of waste management, LCC has embarked on a 'Keep Livingstone Clean Campaign' called the 'Garden Competition'.
The 'Garden Competition' is an initiative that is aimed at rewarding households and business houses that come out exemplary as models of cleanliness to encourage them to keep their surroundings clean.
LCC Public Relations Manager revealed that there had been a good response from the residents and some business houses.
“We want residents and stakeholders to be engaged in changing the outlook of the City of Livingstone. So far the response from residents and business houses has been overwhelming. Some business houses within and outside the Central Business District have already started painting their premises so as to make them attractive,” he added.
Mr. Sikanyika has however bemoaned the low response from theCorporate World in sponsoring the competition.
He explained that the council alone would not be able to give out all the prizes to deserving households and businesses by themselves.
“The response from the corporate world where we are supposed to have support has been very slow. We cannot manage to give out prizes by ourselves. For instance if LCC gives out a plot each to all winners, how many plots are we going to give out?” he asked.
Mr. Sikanyika has since called on the corporate world to support the Garden Competition as it would enhance a culture of cleanliness in the City.
LCC embarks on a ‘Keep Livingstone Clean Campaign’
