greenspace

MBABANE – Swazi authorities face a tough challenge as the government steps up efforts to arrest environmental degradation.

The recently appointed director of the Eswatini Environmental Authority (EEA), said much of the damage could be reversed if environmental policing were decentralized, and efforts to raise ecological awareness among local communities were increased. “Environment involves everybody; everyone has to do his or her own part. We need to have more communication,” said Allen.

Swaziland has a raft of legislation specifically aimed at improving environmental preservation, but Allen noted that the support of local communities was critical to effective implementation of the laws. “The action plan is in place, but it is up to individual constituencies to do the implementation. Each will do so in their own way,” she commented.

EEA ‘task forces’ are to be dispatched to each of the country’s four regions to consult with traditional leadership, NGOs and the private sector, in the hope that broad consultation will result in greater local ownership of environmentally friendly policies. “Every region is unique: there is a great difference between mountainous northern Hhohho and the dry flat eastern lowveld; environmental problems are not all the same, though the people of each region can still look at themselves through the main issues of biodiversity, waste management, environmental management, and the others,” Allen pointed out.

Recurring drought conditions have meant that farmers have to walk three km every day to the Mbuluzi River, where the water quality is questionable: cows defecate while crossing it and women use detergents when washing their clothes in its flow.

In urban areas the situation is equally bleak. Swaziland has a relatively small population compared to its neighbours, but migration has been rapid and the resource-strapped government has been unable to provide adequate social services to a growing urban population, many of whom find shelter in informal settlements.

Sonnyboy Ngwenya, a volunteer with the local Yongwe Nawe conservation group said: “We are also seeing industrial pollution: rivers are used to dispose of toxic wastes. This is new – a by-product of industrialisation.” [ENDS]