AN ASSESSMENT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

This study assessed the effectiveness of municipal solid waste management of Choma District in Southern Province. The study adopted a survey research design. Semi-structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data on the effectiveness of municipal solid waste management in Choma. The sample of respondents comprised officials from the Choma Municipal Council (CMC), residents from four wards in Choma Central Constituency. Four methods were used to collect data: First, questionnaires were administered to 162 households selected by cluster random sampling; second, in-depth interviews were conducted with Choma Municipal Council officials responsible for solid waste management; third, focus group discussions were conducted with selected residents from the four wards to assess perceptions of effectiveness of CMC`s management of municipal solid waste and, fourth, field observations were used to assess the state of solid waste in Choma. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse data from interviews and focus group discussions. The study found that CMC was unable to effectively manage solid waste.