South South Learning: When Malicounda takes inspiration from Kigali to become a green, clean and secure municipality!
Did you know how the Rwandan capital, Kigali, which was one of the dirty cities around 1994, became, in a few years, one of the cleanest cities in Africa?
In record time, the city of Kigali has become a reference that shines throughout Africa. But to get there, this green, clean and secure capital has been able to count on the political will of its leaders like the current Mayor Pudence Rubingisa who wants us to move away from the pessimistic idea according to which "Africa will not develop.
One of the fundamental pillars of the success of this green city, which had no waste management system before 1994, is undoubtedly a real political will which began with the development of laws on cleanliness and launch of a vast inclusive awareness campaign which citizens have taken ownership of.
Thanks to the asserted political will of its leaders, this capital of the country of a thousand hills was able to acquire ecological governance capacities, know-how in terms of planning the use of space, urban development and waste management, while successfully involving citizens.
After suffering a tragic genocide in 1994, Kigali became in a few decades a sustainable city in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Moreover, “In 2008, UN-Habitat presented its Honorary Award to the city of Kigali for its efforts to eliminate slums and improve urban amenities, particularly regarding garbage collection, provision of housing and sanitation and water supply.” (source: un.org).
