Mozambique: A glimpse at how and why litter is ‘gaining ground’ in the capital

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Mozambique: A glimpse at how and why litter is ‘gaining ground’ in the capital

9:16 CAT | 05 Sep 2024

Image: Notícias

The litter scattered across the main avenues of the country’s capital highlights a lack of hygiene on the part of informal vendors, who abandon their points of sale without carrying out the necessary cleaning work.

On Sundays, the city of Maputo is characterised by the unpleasant sight of piles of garbage.

A survey by Notícias found quantities of trash, including disposable items, rotten vegetables and other types of waste, on Avenidas Guerra Popular, Zedequias Manganhela, Filipe Samuel and other locations where informal vendors gather.

In addition to the trash, the stalls are abandoned along the pavements. Many are tied to trees, their surveillance left in the care of private security guards from homes and commercial establishments, a situation that degrades the city’s image and hinders pedestrian mobility.

Questioned by Notícias, the vendors said that they did not clean up on Saturday nights because it was late, and they therefore left the task for Monday morning. The ones who do work on Sundays said they only swept their own areas, ignoring the rest, which remains strewn with rubbish.

The situation calls into question the efforts of the municipal authorities, who have been raising awareness among informal vendors about the importance of keeping their workplaces clean, leaving pedestrian crossings clear, and generally facilitating the movement of people and goods.

The authorities now promise to intensify awareness campaigns and rid the capital of unsightly waste.

Source: Notícias