Who is to blame for the lack of cleanliness: the authorities or the residents?

In the run-up to the celebration of Independence Day in Tajikistan, residents of Dushanbe are complaining about dirt and garbage on the streets of the capital.

A resident of the “Giprozem” neighborhood in Dushanbe posted a video on social media and complained about the lack of cleanliness in the area, claiming that the streets and the playground near his home are filled with trash. The footage shows a large puddle in front of the playground, litter scattered everywhere, and access to the playground hindered.

The issue of cleanliness is not only observed in Dushanbe. Complaints about garbage and dirt are also coming from other major cities in the country. Residents claim that the streets and avenues of the city are dirty and littered because municipal services do not timely remove waste from landfills and do not clean the streets of cities and districts. However, city and district authorities blame residents for not maintaining cleanliness and assert that residents do not dispose of waste in designated areas.

The Deputy Chairman of Dushanbe, Tolib Rahimzoda, acknowledged the problem of street pollution in the capital at a press conference on July 26. According to him, efforts will be made to educate the population to address the issue.

According to Deputy Rustam Emomali, 806 protocols have been drawn up over the past six months against citizens who dispose of garbage in unauthorized places.

Rustam Emomali was appointed mayor of Dushanbe in 2017 by a decree from his father, Emomali Rahmon. It has been 7 years since he took office as mayor of the capital. However, residents of the city sharply criticize Rustam Emomali, claiming that he is unable to solve the city’s problems.