Proper Management of Onsite Sanitation Systems in Zambia

Effective management of onsite sanitation systems in Zambia is critical to protect public health and the environment. Proper maintenance, regular desludging, and safe disposal of waste are important components of onsite sanitation management practices. Additionally, it is important to promote awareness and education among the population on the importance of good hygiene practices and the proper use and maintenance of onsite sanitation systems. Developing and implementing simplified guidelines and regulations for onsite sanitation management can also help to ensure safe and effective waste management practices in Zambia.

The Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA), established under the Environmental Management Act (EMA) No. 12 of 2011, is the public body responsible for an array of environmental issues, including regulating effluent discharge. In this respect, ZEMA is responsible for issuing waste management licenses to all sanitation service providers (including local authorities) to “reclaim, re-use, recover or recycle waste; collect of dispose of waste; transport waste to a disposal site; own, construct or operate a waste disposal site or transit, trade in or export waste.”

When it comes to feacal disposal in Zambian homes and neighborhoods, the country primarily has two sewer disposal methods: Offsite and Onsite.

1. Offsite has the sewerage reticulation system with pipes and sewer system managed by commercial utility companies.

2. The on-site sanitation system can be divided into two methods: the septic tank and soakaway method and pit latrines.

When pit latrines fill up, many households must empty them because of the lack of space to dig new pits. But whenever space permits especially in rural areas with very low population density and more land available, burying the latrine and building another one somewhere is an acceptable feacal sludge management practice.

Many of the new affluent residential areas that continue to spring up are not getting connected to the sewer system ultimately settling for septic tanks and soakaways.  This creates an environmental hazard if not done correctly as effluent can percolate into the soil and contaminate the groundwater. They can also get flooded during rainy season, leading to environmental contamination and create a scenario where on-site sanitation becomes costly both in direct and opportunity costs. There are also settlements where the ground water table is very high. This makes septic tanks and soakaways unsuitable for on-site sanitation purposes.

This article addresses how a septic tank can be properly built and managed to ensure adherence to environmental concerns.

The common building practice in Zambia is to dig a 3mx3mx3m pit, though it can vary depending on the number of persons that will live in a particular house.  For smaller homes, a smaller tank will be planned, and for bigger housing units like blocks of flats and other multiple dwelling units, a concrete work which will seal the waste into the ground is ideal.

Digging for the storage tank to be underground is ideal because you would not want waste to flow out or mix with other items in the compound like water sources or farms and vegetation as this could lead to contamination and disease outbreaks.

The Zambian building code recommends that sewage tanks and their attached soakaway systems be underground. These soakaway pits are then lined with block work to form the side walls of the tank. Looking at it from the top, you will think it’s a small room being built underground, of course it’s a room, just not rooms for human habitation! We also use reinforced concrete columns to make the corners.

The importance of these columns is for structural integrity and for  prevention of lateral pressure which might bear down on the tank from the top. We also make a middle concrete beam to round the soakaway and septic tanks. These reinforced beams are needed to provide stability.

The next step in the construction of soakaways is the plastering; the plaster work is for the septic tank side, where the effluent is stored. It is important that the effluent will not seep through the tank walls and mix with the ground water in the surrounding areas.

The section of the soakaway where wastewater is meant to seep away is at one side, usually left open in between blocks to slowly let off excess water into the surrounding ground, as opposed to the soakaway where the effluent is supposed to be stored until they degrade.

The decking work on septic tanks is meant to form a rigid cover for the soakaway. That prevents the risk of people or other domestic animals from falling into the pit. The decking will also be reinforced like other decking slabs done in home construction. An opening is then left for the evacuation of waste when it gets filled. It is recommended that septic tanks and soakaway systems be constructed to last for a long time before evacuation, so that the inconvenience of evacuating waste regularly is reduced.

In conclusion, it is imperative that sanitation systems in the country are improved. A standard guide for soakaway construction should be developed and enforced. 

Local authorities and CUs should claim their mandate and guide on where and how to construct septic tanks and soakaways to avoid pollution of groundwater. With population increase and new settlements developing, town planning becomes even more important to ensure that new settlements are properly designed and provide for various social amenities, including fecal sludge management. It is important to ensure every household is connected to a sewer system. As such, onsite sanitation now should be regulated and guided in accordance with the environmental regulations. 

Kaunda's Legacy: Examining the One-Party State

Kenneth David Kaunda would have been 99-year-old today, unfortunately he died on on the 17th of June 2021, drawing curtain on Africa’s Liberation leaders. Starting his journey as a leader, becoming autocratic and ending as a stateman, KK’s life can fill libraries if all put in books.

Born in 1924, in the same year as his future fellow liberation-leader across the Zambezi Robert Mugabe, he declared Zambia a one-party state under the United National Independence Party (UNIP) in 1972. Kaunda's rationale for the introduction of the one-party state was to promote unity, stability, and national development. He believed that multiparty democracy would lead to fragmentation, tribalism, and division among Zambians, which could hamper progress and economic growth.

The one-party state system was characterized by the dominance of the UNIP and limited political freedoms. Opposition parties were banned, and political dissidents were often subject to detention and repression by the state. The government controlled the media and limited free speech and assembly.

Critics of the one-party state argued that it stifled political pluralism and democratic expression, which could have allowed for more diverse voices to be heard and better accountability of the government to the people. The system also led to allegations of corruption and abuse of power by the government.

I feel that the decision taken in 1972 was a necessary evil to the national hood of Zambia and her cohesion.

First, Zambia was surrounded by warring nations. Thus, it takes a certain level of control to keep peace in the country. And some of these may not be aligned with the conventional democratic tenets. History has demonstrated that opposition political parties can become careless in an effort to show that they are the better alternative to the ruling party. The One-Party State provide political stability and continuity, by eliminating the need for political parties to compete for power and allowed UNIP to focus on governing the country.

Secondly, being a staunch opponent of colonialist governments and their policies of racial segregation and discrimination, Ian Smith and his Selous Scouts - a special forces unit of the Rhodesian Army known for their unconventional warfare tactics - were probably looking for any opportunity to silence KK. And not forgetting apartheid South Africa, the Portuguese in Angola and Mozambique. Even with all these measures in place, there were claims that the 1980 Coup attempt and the Mushala Upraising had the backing of South Africa.

Thirdly, we have seen so many countries experiencing significant challenges and instability after the fall of a strongman leader. For example, after the fall of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the country experienced widespread violence, political turmoil, and a rise in sectarianism. In Libya, the fall of Muammar Gaddafi led to a power vacuum and armed conflict, with various factions vying for control of the country. Who knows what would have happened to Zambia if democracy and politics had been the nucleus of the country's agenda?

Lastly, when we consider the inter-party violence and the strong tribal politics that had characterized early political parties in Zambia, Kaunda may have been right in introducing the one-party state. Many political parties had conspicuous tribal identities For example, African National Congress (ANC) in Southern and Central provinces, United Party (UP) in N. Western and Western provinces, and the United Progressive Party (UPP) in the Northern province. We are well too familiar of how politicians have perfected tribalism as a tool for their political advancement. They usually have jejune messages, lacking any real depth or complexity, just appealing to people's emotions. Tribal loyalties are an obstacle to development and advancement of a people. This in no way oversimplifies the complexities of cultural and historical realities nor promotes assimilation and erasure of cultural diversity. But in the words of Samora Moises Machel, for the nation to live, the tribe must die. 

However, in 1990, Kaunda would repeal the one-party state and introduced multi-party democracy in Zambia. Today, we celebrate KK's commitment to unity, social justice, and his dedication to the development of Zambia and Africa. He had his own weaknesses, yes, we must tip our hat to the man also known as musician, golfer, vegan and Betty's lover. HappyKK's Day

THE RWANDA GENOCIDE: Causes, Genocide, Aftermath and Lessons.

7^th April is the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance against genocide and other mass atrocities, and as an opportunity to honor the victims and survivors of the Rwandan genocide. It is a day of remembrance for the genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994, during which an estimated more than 800,000 people were killed in just 100 days. 29 years since, what were the causes and how can they be prevented? What was the aftermath and successes? This essay will attempt to answer those questions, and the lessons learnt from this horrific event.

Causes

The roots of the Rwanda genocide can be traced back to the colonial period when Belgium took over control of the region. The Belgians implemented a policy of divide and rule, dividing the population into two groups, Tutsis, who were seen as a ruling elite, and Hutus, who were seen as subservient. This created deep-seated tensions between the two groups that were further exacerbated by the formation of ethnic-based political parties in the post-independence period. The Hutu-led government in the 1990s saw the Tutsis as a threat to their power and encouraged the marginalization and persecution of the Tutsi population.

Genocide

On 6th April 1994, the plane carrying the Rwandan president, Juvénal Habyarimana, was shot down over Kigali, killing him and the Burundian president, Cyprien Ntaryamira. The identity of who shot down President this plane is still a subject of debate and controversy and I will avoid giving my mind on that. You can have yourself answers by looking at who would have been losers and winners of the peace process that was underway in Burundi and Rwanda at the time. However, this single event served as a catalyst for the genocide that was carried out by the Hutu extremists. The genocide involved the systematic killing of Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The killing was done by the military, militias, and ordinary citizens. The Hutu-led government played a key role in organizing and directing the genocide, using propaganda to incite the masses and encourage them to participate in the killing.

The genocide lasted for 100 days, from April to July 1994. On April 7, 1994, the genocide began with the assassination of moderate Hutu Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana. Over the next few days, Tutsis and moderate Hutus were targeted for killing, with roadblocks set up to identify and kill Tutsis. The international community and major world powers failed to intervene and stop the genocide, despite clear evidence of the atrocities taking place. The United Nations peacekeeping force in Rwanda, The United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) of which Zambia was a part of, was unable to prevent the violence, and on April 21, the UN Security Council even voted to reduce the number of UNAMIR troops in Rwanda. The reasons are many and they range from lack of political will to strategic interests to colonial legacies. By mid-June, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Tutsi-led rebel group, had made significant gains, and by July, they had taken control of the country.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the genocide was devastating, with an estimated of over 800,000 people killed and many more injured, traumatized, and displaced. The RPF established a new government, led by President Paul Kagame, and initiated a process of national reconciliation and justice. This process was aimed at addressing the root causes of the genocide, holding perpetrators accountable, and creating a path forward for the country.

One of the first steps in the national reconciliation and justice process was to establish the Gacaca Courts, which were community-based courts aimed at trying those accused of participating in the genocide. The Gacaca Courts were intended to provide justice for victims and their families, while also giving perpetrators an opportunity to confess and seek forgiveness. The courts were successful in trying over one million cases and played a crucial role in the national reconciliation process.

The government also established the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission (NURC), which was tasked with promoting unity and reconciliation among the different ethnic groups in the country. The NURC organized a variety of programs and initiatives aimed at promoting reconciliation, such as community dialogues and youth forums.

Another key component of the national reconciliation and justice process was the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), which was set up to prosecute those responsible for the genocide. The ICTR prosecuted several high-profile cases, including that of Jean Kambanda, the former Prime Minister of Rwanda, who served as the Prime Minister during the country's genocide and was appointed by the Interahamwe-dominated government that took power after the assassination of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana. Kambanda was later tried and convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in 1998 becoming the only head of government to have been convicted of genocide by an international tribunal.

In addition to these efforts, the government also invested in education and economic development programs aimed at promoting social and economic inclusion and reducing inequality in the country. These programs were designed to address some of the underlying causes of the genocide, such as poverty and lack of access to education.

Overall, the national reconciliation and justice process in Rwanda was a critical step in the country's journey towards healing and rebuilding. While there is still much work to be done, the efforts of the government and the people of Rwanda have been recognized as a model for other countries facing similar challenges. The process has shown that reconciliation and justice are possible, even in the face of unimaginable violence and suffering, and that they are essential for building a peaceful and prosperous future for all Rwandans.

Figure: Author's presentation of the genocide timeline 

Lessons Learnt

The Rwanda genocide serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of ethnic and political violence, as well as the importance of international cooperation and intervention in preventing such atrocities from occurring. The genocide also highlights the role of media and propaganda in promoting and encouraging violence. The international community failed to act quickly enough to prevent the genocide, and this has led to a greater emphasis on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, which unfortunately is selective and politicized, has been used as a pretext for military intervention such as in Libya. Lastly, the Rwanda genocide highlights the importance of addressing the root causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality, and historical injustices, in order to prevent future conflicts.

Conclusion 

In my conclusion, I have come to understand that despite the vast knowledge and resources available to us, humanity still fails to learn history. Time and time again, we see the same mistakes being made, and the same tragic consequences resulting from them. Hate speech, discrimination, inequality, ethnicism, xenophobia, conflicts and wars continue to rear their ugly heads. Although progress has been made in technology and medicine, on conflicts and wars, humanity has shown to be stick-necked and incorrigible. But there's hope! We can still make conscious efforts to learn from the Congo Genocide, Holocaust, Bosnian genocide, Rwandan genocide etc and use that knowledge to shape a better future. Whether it be in our personal lives, our communities, or on a global scale, we can all strive to make progress towards a more peaceful, just, and equitable world. As we commemorate the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, lets remember the devastating consequences of hatred and violence and highlight the importance of international cooperation and intervention in preventing such atrocities from occurring.

You cannot own a human being! Sooner or later, someone pushes back! - Miss Giddy (Mad Max: Fury Road)