The role of women groups in waste management in the Lake Victoria Basin: the case of street cleaning and recycling of fish remains in Mwanza City, Tanzania

Abstract

The unguided rapid urbanisation and increased human activities contribute towards pollution load in the lake waters and overall environmental degradation in the Lake Victoria basin. The diminishing capacity of urban local authorities to effectively manage waste prompted the emergence of Non-Governmental and Community Based Organisation to bridge this gap. This paper examines the role of women groups in waste management in Mwanza City. Specific focus is paid to two groups; one dealing with street cleaning and the second on recycling of fish remains. On methodological fronts; literature review, interviews with women group leaders and focus group discussions formed the key methods of data collection. Findings show that the decentralisation of street cleaning to women groups resulted into improved waste management practice in Mwanza City to the extent that it emerged the cleanest city Tanzania in the year 2006. Similarly, it has been revealed that while the main objective of recycling fish remains by one of the women group was purely on livelihood issue, it has been also contributing towards reducing pollution load to the Lake. In view of the role played by these groups, it has been recommended that both the central and local governments should take a serious concern to support these groups as a strategy towards sustainable waste management that ultimately reduces pollution load in Lake Victoria. Empirical evidence used in this paper comes from a research project supported by VicRes.

Keywords: Lake Victoria, women groups, waste management, street cleaning and recycling