Noise pollution and air pollution in Maputo worsened by lack of regulation

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Noise pollution and air pollution in Maputo worsened by lack of regulation

10:19 CAT | 20 Jun 2017

O País

The city of Maputo is growing. But as it does so, it is losing green spaces to other uses, it lacks adequate sanitation infrastructure and struggles with noise and environmental pollution. Its public transport system is the bane of its citizens.

One of the most persistent activists on environmental issues, Carlos Serra Jr., joined other voices in a debate last week in Maputo which criticised the absence of concrete measures to control pollution and reminded the authorities that they should play their part. He says municipal regulations are inadequate and that the country need more specific regulations to prohibit certain activities.

“We have to have a good regulatory framework. There are standards at both the national and municipal level. However, there are also gaps and some mismatches with today’s reality. If these laws are not put into operation, we will never do anything but debate to no effect,” he said.

With a panel that included representatives from the health sector and civil society, significant interventions came from the audience. One participant, representing the Physical Department of the Eduardo Mondlane University, presented an environmental map of Maputo which showed that Maputo is already a polluted city and highlighted the areas where the situation is most critical.

“There are areas of Maputo that have pollution far above what is recommended by the World Health Organization – 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air volume. For example, Xiquelene, Xipamanine, Museu and downtown Maputo areas typically have above 50 micrograms per cubic meter,” he said, citing the large volumes of waste produced in the city and the pollutants emitted by vehicles as the main aggravating factors.

And because pollution has direct consequences on public health, Ana Mucumbi, a researcher at the National Institute of Health, said that the consequences of pollution are among the main causes of health problems.

The ‘Citizens of Maputo’ movement, which organised the public debate, has drawn up a letter signed by more than 9,800 citizens which calls on the municipality and government to put forward solutions that would improve life in Maputo.

Source: O País