LILONGWE—Last month, Lilongwe vendors reluctantly relocated to their designated Tsoka flea market after city authorities said this was necessary to improve sanitation which had deteriorated due to congestion and people not caring how they disposed of their garbage.

The operation was commendable with the help of police of course.

If city authorities care that much about hygiene, what are they doing about people turning public places into toilets?

When one is crossing Lilongwe bridge, one can see people urinating in public. Some defecate in the bamboo bushes under the bridge. Do I need to write about the offending smells that hit you as walk cross the bridge?
A vendor said the flea market doesn’t have enough toilets. And it’s not only vendors who go there, customers too, the person said.

Lilongwe had public toilets in the past - 70s, 80s and 90s - before they were privatized. Since then, most people opt for open areas to answer the call of nature.

When the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was in power, Dr. George Chaponda, who was justice minister then, had no problem saying it would be okay to ban farting in public.

The minister had unfortunately commented without fully understanding what the measure had intended. But still, it farting in public was seen as offensive, why is defecating and urinating in public not an issue?

If the city can’t do anything on this issue, which is a health hazard, is there a reason for the authorities to talk about keeping the city clean.
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment.