Councillors told to improve sanitation

Residents of Luchenza in Thyolo District have urged their newly elected councillors to improve sanitation of the town to raise its profile befitting its municipal status.

Speaking during a public debate organised by National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Public Trust at Luchenza Municipal Hall on Saturday, the residents decried the town’s state of sanitation since changing its status from a town council to municipality.

They said the municipal markets have become “death traps” because of poor waste disposal methods.

“When Luchenza was a town council we used to have waste bins, but since it became a municipal council refuse is being left to pile for several days before it is collected,” said one of the participants Henry Mkulichi, a businessman.

While acknowledging the insanitary environment, the municipal’s chief executive officer (CEO) Abubakar Nkhoma also banked his hopes on councillors to help improve the situation.

“The last time the municipal purchased waste bins was around 2006 and, since then, we have not had new ones because of low revenue,” he said.

Panellists at the debate included two councillors, the municipal CEO and Traditional Authority (TA) Namseta.