Uncollected trash in Yaoundé: The role of Civic duty

By Beryu Yundze

For some time now, images and videos of massive trash heaps in major cities across Cameroon, particularly in the capital, Yaoundé, have been circulating on the internet. These images are often accompanied by criticism and condemnation, with many blaming the government for failing to manage waste effectively. While it is easy to hold the government and councils accountable, we must also ask ourselves: What role does civic duty play in this crisis?
A wise man once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” Many people seem to have a clear idea of what the government should do for them, yet few reflect on their own responsibilities toward their nation. The pressing question should be: How did our cities become this dirty in the first place? A country is built from the individual to the family, the neighborhood, the community, the town, the city, and ultimately, the nation. Individual responsibility is crucial because it extends to both the family and the community. A responsible individual would neither litter their home nor the streets and would also hold others accountable for maintaining cleanliness.
Growing up, many of us sang a song about malaria, which emphasized individual responsibility. The song advised taking Nivaquine as a first step, cleaning one’s house as a second step, and maintaining a clean compound as a third step to keep mosquitoes at bay. By following these steps, entire communities could be protected from malaria. The current trash crisis is similar, yet Cameroonians seem to shift all blame to the government, as though they are not the ones generating and living in the waste. How did we become so comfortable with such filth? How can we not feel compelled to take action against this mess?
The truth is that Cameroonians have embraced a culture of negligence and impunity, reinforced by the misguided belief that “black man no di die dorty” (a local saying implying that dirt does not harm Africans). This mindset emboldens individuals to litter indiscriminately, without fear of consequences. We have normalized living in filth while simultaneously complaining about it. We discard waste everywhere yet expect clean streets. The question remains: What portion of the blame do we accept, and what are we actively doing to improve our environment? If the government fails to address the issue, does that mean Cameroonians must resign themselves to breathing in stench indefinitely? Where is our sense of civic duty?
In his novel The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born, Ayi Kwei Armah used trash as a metaphor for the corruption, poor governance, and societal decay afflicting his country. Could this crisis in Yaoundé serve as an opportunity for us to embrace civic responsibility and rid our country of such ills? The answer lies with the people.
Up until the early 1990s, there were sanitary inspections in the former West Cameroon. These inspections ensured both public and private sanitation. Some municipalities even organized “cleanup campaigns” to maintain cleanliness. Such initiatives could be revived, especially given the diverse communities in Yaoundé, where Anglophones and Francophones can engage in cultural exchanges and adopt best practices for waste management. If Cameroonians truly desire change, they must take the initiative and make it happen.
Your Environment, Your Responsibility
Proposal for Action
• Organize residents at the block or household level and collaborate with traditional authorities to establish designated trash collection sites.
• Delegate representatives to the local councils to discuss waste disposal solutions, including financial contributions to facilitate waste removal if necessary.
• Appoint community members as “trash police” to ensure proper waste disposal and discourage littering.
Change begins with individual action. A cleaner Yaoundé is possible if we all take responsibility for our environment.

Beryu Yundze holds a PhD in Political Science and International Relations from Istanbul Aydin University, Turkey. Before pursuing graduate studies, he worked as a reporter with several newspapers in Cameroon. He is currently a researcher at Luxan Research Institute Turkey where he conducts research on African traditional governments, security and democracy.