Ministerial Tour Assesses Year-End Sanitation Effort
At dawn on the last Saturday of 2025, the Minister of Urban Sanitation, Juste Désiré Mondelé, set out from the Poto-Poto roundabout, heading north to Ebina. The monthly inspection, introduced to restore civic pride, has become a barometer of citizens’ adherence to official cleanliness rules.
Flanked by municipal engineers and security officers, the minister observed freshly swept sidewalks and newly painted curbs along Edith-Lucie-Bongo Avenue. “There is satisfaction; the sidewalks are finally walkable,” he told journalists, his voice carrying over the morning traffic. “Our task now is to make this discipline permanent.”
Sidewalks Cleared, But Vigilance Remains Crucial
Residents strolling through the cleared walkways welcomed the change. Sandrine Ngoma, a resident of Talangaï, said she felt “safer walking with my children without having to avoid stalls.” Yet, transient vendors stood on street corners, ready to return once the ministerial convoy passed.
Mondelé acknowledged the temptation, commending security forces for maintaining order but urging sustained citizen vigilance. “Everyone must act—press, municipal teams, market committees—so that ‘Brazza the Green’ is not just a slogan but a daily reality,” he reminded onlookers, echoing the President’s recent speech to congress.
Informal Trade Is Not an Excuse to Violate Standards
With roughly half of Brazzaville’s workforce earning a living outside the formal sector, street trade brings vitality and affordable goods. Yet, Mondelé was categorical: entrepreneurial energy must not override public safety. “The informal economy does not exempt anyone from respecting hygiene standards,” he stated.
Analysts note the minister’s stance balances economic pragmatism with regulatory firmness. By foregrounding cleanliness over repression, authorities hope to align vendors’ interests with those of pedestrians who demand unobstructed passage and a healthy environment.
Bernard Kolelas Market Faces Relocation Test
The convoy headed south to the Bernard Kolelas Market in Bacongo, where a new site awaits traders who previously occupied the roadway. Many stalls remained outside the gates, wary of rental fees or fearing a loss of clientele. Inside, freshly tiled stands were largely empty.
“We must re-educate and persuade,” Mondelé conceded, calling on market associations to transparently account for fees collected from vendors. He urged committee leaders to use their influence, asserting that well-managed markets boost sales by offering cleaner premises protected from the elements.
Draft Bill to Strengthen Enforcement Tools
Mondelé confirmed a draft bill is now before the General Secretariat of the Government, designed to give legal force to the first-Saturday initiative. The future law would authorize fines and temporary closures for repeat offenders and clarify the municipal police’s role in sanitation matters.
“When the law becomes more binding, compliance will follow,” the minister predicted. Observers expect a parliamentary debate early next year, reflecting a gradual shift from moral persuasion to measurable sanctions while protecting small-scale livelihoods.
Cooperation Remains Key to Success
Municipal teams have doubled waste collection rounds, and radio hosts broadcast reminders before each cleanup day. Civil society groups distribute gloves, bags, and brooms, turning collective work into a social event. Such grassroots energy, officials say, eases pressure on limited municipal budgets.
Local entrepreneur Arsène Makosso donated buckets to schools in Talangaï. “Teaching children to pick up litter shapes tomorrow’s habits,” he asserted, illustrating how private actors complement public efforts without waiting for directives. Mondelé hailed such partnerships as models to replicate in other districts.
Vision for a Greener, More Livable Capital
The broader goal, articulated by President Denis Sassou Nguesso, is to revive the images of “Brazza the Green” and “Ponton the Beautiful,” cities once famed for tree-lined boulevards and orderly avenues. Urban planners view the sidewalk rehabilitation program as a first step toward comprehensive waste recycling schemes.
Mondelé mentioned future projects, including roadside nurseries to provide shade trees and micro-credit for vendors wishing to transition to formal retail kiosks. “Cleanliness and commerce are compatible,” he maintained, his remarks drawing approval from traders already envisioning upgraded stalls.
Citizens Weigh Costs and Benefits
Some residents express concerns about potential penalties, especially street vendors supporting large families. However, many agree that clear streets increase foot traffic and, ultimately, sales. “If customers can breathe, they stay longer,” remarked fabric seller Mireille Mvoula, folding cloth inside the authorized enclosure.
Economists suggest that orderly markets could even attract tourists and foreign investors seeking visible proof of good governance. For now, the minister’s walking tour sends a message: compliance grants visibility, while disorder will increasingly carry financial risks once the new law is enacted.
Countdown to Legislative Approval
Review by the General Secretariat normally precedes cabinet approval, then submission to parliament. Lawmakers contacted by local media anticipate swift adoption, citing broad popular support. Details such as fine amounts and appeal procedures remain under discussion, signaling legislators’ intent to balance deterrence with fairness.
Until the law is signed, Mondelé relies on monthly inspections and community persuasion. “We cannot police every street corner,” he acknowledged, but his December tour underscored that official eyes can appear at any time, prompting vendors to tidy their displays or move on even before sirens approach.
A Culture of Cleanliness Takes Root
In many neighborhoods, the ritual of the