By Andrew Gondwe

Chitipa, February 11, Mana:  Chairperson for Chitipa District Council, Toweracharo Munyenyembe, has expressed concern that some business people and communities in the district are not participating in clean-up exercises.

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of a clean-up exercise at Chitipa Boma on Friday, Munyenyembe said the tendency is retrogressive. 

She said people should stop thinking that the clean-up campaign is for officers from the district council only.

Munyenyembe said: "For hygiene and sanitation to be fully achieved in the district, we need to work together as citizens of Chitipa. However, it brings questions when other business people don't participate in the exercise.

"I would love that everyone in the district should understand and participate in promoting hygiene and sanitation so that Chitipa should be free from diseases like cholera that might emerge due to poor waste disposal.”

Senior Chief Mwabulambya, however, said there is need for duty bearers to sensitize citizens on the importance of the clean-up exercises to encourage more people to participate. 

In his remarks, chairperson for Chitipa Civil Society Organizations Network, Patrick Ziba, said non-governmental organizations working in the district will continue to work with the council in promoting sanitation and hygiene.