SEAP - Human Settlements, Urbanisation and Environmental Health Working Group

4.0 SUGGESTED POLICIES

Encourage sustainable use of both land and land resources
Formulate and adopt firm policies for land management which sustain the environment through the participation of the larger populace.
Integrate land use planning and management.
A strategy which pursues environmental sustainability through active involvement of public and private sector is necessary.
Environmental education is an integral part of human settlement policy. People must be educated that the relationship between natural resources and their livelihood is an interdependent one.
Promote the access to landed property rights by all sectors of the population, with particular attention being given to women.
Identify and remedy the legal, cultural and economic constraints which impact on land tenure.
Pursue good urban management and governance.
Establish adequate partnership with other players in the access of land and the provision of services.

The Health Policy of 1993 should be reviewed and special emphases should be made on how the policy should be implemented.
The policy needs review also because the epidemiological situation and some Ministry of Health priorities have changed.
Legislation such as the Public Health act, Act No 5 of 1969 do not reflect current practice. There is an urgent need to review this and to formulate relevant regulations.
An Environmental Health information system to cover all aspects of environmental health should be developed.

Educate people that mobilization and utilization of resources is related to the generation and disposal of solid waste, locally and nationally.
Increase institutional capacity of the Swaziland Environmental Authority to enable it to better perform its duties.
Agencies or local authorities responsible for solid waste management whereby waste is separated according to its economic value or level of usability by providing different receptacles for collection or disposal.
Mobilize financial and human resources for solid waste management.
Provide satellite disposal sites which complement main waste disposal sites.
Develop innovative approaches of solid waste management.
Enact and enforce solid waste legislation(s).

Establish regulations to specifically control pollution of the environment (air, noise, water, and soil).
Establish ways of enforcing the existing legislation on pollution.
Empower property owners and nationals with environmental protection rights over their properties and localities.