Chapter 7 - Through African Eyes
What a Load of Rubbish
For all its beauty and warmth my lasting impression of Mozambique will be that of a country blighted by a major littering problem, despite many fond memories from my time spent there.
It seems the majority of Mozambicans have no regard for maintaining the natural beauty of their country, which is surprising giving many of their livelihoods depend on tourism and visitors to the country. Maputo, my first port of call on arriving in Mozambique was, as I had expected, like many other African cities - a busy and dirty affair where one can get lost in the hustle and bustle of daily life.
However, I did not expect to see that dirt, and in some places downright squalor, spread throughout the rest of the country. But over time, as I ventured further north, and eventually back down to the south, I realised the entire country was plagued by litter.
It was not possible to venture anywhere on foot with out, at some stage, picking your way through empty food boxes, coke cans and plastic bags.
There is one incident that sticks out above the rest, and in essence sums up the attitude towards rubbish in Mozambique. Having taken the bus from Inhambane heading for Vilanculos I was wedged at the front, atop the baggage pile, due to a lack of space. It also happened to be one of the few places on the bus where there was a window, which, as I soon discovered, equates to the waste disposal hatch to the locals.
It didn't take long for the locals to tuck into their food, which for most consisted of fried chicken and pap (a maize based starch that is like a smooth yet solid porridge), filling the bus with a smell that left me feeling rather nauseous at a touch past eight in the morning. I opened the window to let some fresh air in, hoping to drive away the smell of stale oil and half burnt chicken skin, but succeed only in landing myself the job of a bin man.
→ Find out what happened next
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