Mixed reactions to Arusha’s 1m/- littering fine

The new TShs 1,000,000 fines for littering in Arusha city streets have sparked mixed reactions, with some residents deeming it an excessively harsh penalty. Some city residents praised the move but others challenged the Arusha City Council (ACC) to improve garbage collection first, saying they saw garbage trucks only once a week in their area, while waste dumpsters were always overflowing. The Arusha Regional Commissioner (RC), Mr. Paul Makonda, commended imposition of the fine, saying the objective was to keep the city, a diplomatic and tourist hub, clean. He urged people to comply. “Why should you be fined Shs 1,000,000 for just throwing a piece of trash while you could put it in a properly designated place?” asked the RC, suggesting that cleanliness should be part of the culture among the city’s dwellers and visitors, rather than being used as means to collect more revenue. Unplanned settlement also poses a challenge to proper garbage collection and disposal. A resident who preferred anonymity, said garbage collection should be approached more scientifically with trash classified to separate nonbiodegradable material like plastics, which pose a serious challenge to the environment. Another approach, he said, was to see garbage as a business opportunity with people being self-motivated for gain to dispose it, rather than being trolled for punishment by men and women in uniform