Nkurenkuru: Kavango West Governor Verna Sinimbo has said Namibia faces significant environmental challenges that require urgent collective action as the country prepares to address growing waste management problems. Sinimbo, while speaking at the launch of the national clean-up campaign in Nkurenkuru on Wednesday, painted a stark picture of the nation’s environmental reality, highlighting “growing waste volumes, insufficient institutional capacity, and lack of effective recycling infrastructure” as key challenges facing the country.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the campaign goes beyond simple waste collection, aiming to fundamentally shift mindsets and build a culture where every citizen recognises their role in safeguarding the environment. She stressed that environmental responsibility extends to every aspect of daily life, saying: ‘If we are well dressed, using the most expensive perfume, if our environment is not clean, we are not going to go clean.”

Environmental Commissioner in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) Timoteus Mufeti suggested that heavy penalties be imposed on offenders, including fines and jail time, ‘similar to successful models implemented in Rwanda. The administration is prepared to change laws if necessary to enforce cleanliness.”

He said the campaign aligns with Namibia’s constitutional environmental protection duties and supports the country’s commitments under Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 15, and further contributes to building community resilience to climate change through policy and finance interventions. The initiative represents more than a cleanup effort and is positioned as a comprehensive approach to rebuilding Namibia’s environmental consciousness and reclaiming the country’s reputation for cleanliness across Africa, he concluded.