trends and future of sustainable development - TransEco

50 000 ha are currently irrigated. However, Zambia has suffered severe droughts from time to timedespite the abundant water resources. (National Agricultural Policy 2004-2015, 2004.)4. Ecosan in practiceIn general, dry toilets and recycling of nutrients is already a reality in Zambia. Human waste has beenused as fertiliser as a standard procedure even with old fashioned pit latrines. The increasing amount ofecosan projects has created a growing interest towards urine separating dry toilets and the use of plainurine in small scale irrigation. It is reported by several authorities, that it is difficult to have an opendiscussion of sanitation due to cultural issues – it is considered to be a private matter. Incidentally,handling human waste is traditionally been work for the poor and the mad, so utilising the productbecomes a problem. (MLGH 2010.)Even though unhygienic pit latrines are technically not allowed, the local authorities have no optionbut to accept them due to various reasons, such as lack of resources. It is not possible to provide sewageconnection to all areas and even proper latrine construction can prove to be too expensive for the people.(Lusaka City Council 2010.) This is why ecosan would be a suitable option for providing sanitation toeven densely populated and remote areas. However, the lack of information rises up as one of the majorchallenges. Indeed, ecosan could be one acceptable and recommended sanitation method, but because oflack of knowledge, the authorities do not see a reason to promote it. Furthermore, legislation cannot bechanged to promote dry toilets until some authority is willing to start work on the process. So far, thebenefits of ecosan are known by individuals but the units responsible are not convinced enough to startworking on a policy or a strategy on ecosan. (MoH 2008.) The result is a cycle of recommendationleading to proposal, only being then cancelled by an existing motion. The political priorities are oftenlimited to one single sector and multidisciplinary planning is forgotten. This may lead to a continuouscycle where policy affects practice and vice versa, leading nowhere. (Ascher and Healy 1990). Thisstationary movement which appears like development can be recognised from the conflicting laws andpolicies present in Zambian society – as described below.5. Legislative system in ZambiaThe legislative system in Zambia revolves around separate administrational and governmental bodies.The Parliament, responsible for enacting legislation, consists of the National Assembly and thepresident, both elected by the people for 5 year terms. The unicameral National Assembly has 150parliamentary constituencies who stand for elections and eight nominated by the president, as well asthe speaker. (State House 2009.)To oversee government administration and subject its activities to scrutiny on behalf of theelectorate, the Parliament has established parliamentary committees that conduct surveillance ondefined areas of government administration. A parliamentary committee system enables Parliament toprobe into any maladministration and make recommendations for improvement. (National Assembly ofZambia 2010.)150