Nkurenkuru: The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) officially launched the 2025 National Clean-Up Campaign at Nkurenkuru, marking the beginning of Namibia’s participation in World Clean-Up Day activities scheduled for Saturday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, MEFT Environmental Commissioner Timoteus Mufeti highlighted the international importance of the campaign during the launch. He stated, “We know cleaning is ongoing throughout activity, but I think we have dedicated these three days for cleaning, today we want to launch, and on Saturday, when the minister comes, we want to commemorate.”
The initiative takes its cue from the successful clean-up effort in Estonia in 2008, where nearly 100,000 people managed to clean the entire country in just five hours. This movement inspired the United Nations General Assembly to declare September 20 as World Clean-Up Day in December 2008. Mufeti pointed out, “That’s where the idea came from – clean up world, clean up day,” noting the widespread global participation in this annual effort.
Under the theme ‘Our Waste, Our Responsibility,’ the 2025 campaign will extend across all 14 regions of Namibia, aiming to engage various sectors, including government entities, individuals, communities, schools, churches, traditional authorities, civil society, local authorities, and the private sector.
Mayor of Nkurenkuru, Japhet Muti, in his welcome remarks, underscored that the national clean-up campaign goes beyond a single day of litter collection. It’s about fostering a national culture and mindset that prioritizes cleanliness, environmental respect, and sustainable practices. Muti articulated, “A clean environment is not a luxury; it is a necessity, it affects our health, our economy, our tourism potential, and even our sense of pride and identity as a nation.”
He stressed the dangers posed by poor waste management, pollution, and indiscriminate dumping, urging that the campaign should inspire a sense of discipline and civic duty to maintain cleanliness daily.
The campaign is a testament to Namibia’s dedication to regaining its status as Africa’s cleanest country while contributing to global environmental protection efforts.