• Poor management of solid waste has been a serious source of various health challenges.
• Poor waste management has made Lusaka very untidy and compromised the hygiene of its dwellers.
• Japan’s support to the people of Zambia is significant.

Minister of Finance has attributed the poor waste management at Lusaka’s Chunga dumpsite to lack of equipment for waste collection.
Speaking during the signing of an exchange note on Japan’s Grant Aid to Zambia for the supply and procurement of landfill equipment for improved waste management in Lusaka, Dr. Bwalya Ng’andu noted that the stock of waste collection equipment is inadequate and cannot support the sustainable management of waste in its current form.
Dr. Ng’andu observes that the poor waste management at the dumpsite has led to missed opportunities which have hampered government’s aspirations of utilizing the Chunga final dumpsite for generating small quantities of electricity from waste.
He said Poor solid waste management has been a serious source of various health challenges such as cholera and other waterborne diseases, undermining the attractiveness of the city for tourists’ purposes.
“Poor management of solid waste has been a serious source of various health challenges such as cholera and other waterborne diseases. Poor waste management has made Lusaka very untidy and compromised the hygiene of its dwellers.”
“This has undermined the attractiveness of the city for tourists’ purposes, so we hope that this is the beginning of cleaning up Lusaka, the beginning of beautifying Lusaka. One of the challenges leading to poor waste management in Lusaka is lack of equipment, additionally, the current stock of waste collection equipment is inadequate and cannot support the sustainable management of waste in its current form,” Dr. Ng’andu said.
Dr. Ng’andu stated that the support being given to Lusaka City Council today by the Japanese government is very timely because the city is currently faced with serious waste collection challenges and poor management of the Chunga dumpsite which is the final disposal site.
And Dr. Ng’andu expressed gratitude to the Japanese government and its people for the generosity that they been exhibiting for a very long time.
He said the evidence is in the many projects and programs that are being extended to various sectors.
“Japan’s support to the people of Zambia is significant. The evidence is in the many other projects and programs that are being extended to various sectors such as education, agriculture, energy, private sector development, transport and communication, health, water and sanitation, environment, among others.”
“Allow me to express my very sincere and profound gratitude to the government and the people of Japan for this exceptional generosity that you have exhibited for a very long time. There is an opportunity for the country to utilize the dumpsite for the purpose of generating small quantities of electricity which can help Lusaka residents.
Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Ryuta Mizuuch said Japan has decided to provide landfill equipment to help mitigate Waste management challenges in Zambia.
Mr. Mizuuchi stated that the 2.76 million US dollars landfill equipment is another Japanese government grant assistance scheme under the frame work program called Economic and Social Development Program.
“Japan has decided to provide landfill equipment within the framework program called economic and social development program. This is another Japanese government grant assistance scheme, and amounts to 300 million Japanese Yen equivalent to 2.76 million US dollars.
“Waste management is a serious challenge to this country, and now we are providing landfill equipment but this alone will not solve the problem,” Mr. Mizuchi stated.
The grant aid for 2021 titled “The Economic and Social Development Program” is meant for provision of various types of Landfill Equipment for improved solid waste management around Lusaka meant to mitigate the problem of uncollected waste in the city’s densely populated areas.