The Sarusungu floating bridge, which connects Namibia to Angola, is finally being cleaned for the first time in 11 years.

The cleaning campaign was organised by the Office of the Governor.

The floating bridge, on the outskirts of Rundu, connects Namibia to the Angolan town of Calai.

Over the years, waste started accumulating around the bridge, making it difficult for search parties to retrieve the bodies of people who have drowned in the river.

Locals also said the waste is creating a breeding ground for various diseases.

This prompted the office of the governor to organise a cleanup campaign.

Kavango East Governor Hamunyera Hambyuka explained.

“It will be an annual event for us to clean this bridge, so we will not just do it today. Come next year, we will also come in the same boat. We may even increase the number to three boats to help us clean this area. Next time, it will be a joint operation together with our colleagues from Angola.”

The governor said it's about time the locals became aware of the damage their actions are causing.

“We need to create awareness. The waste and rubbish we are seeing here did not end up in the river on their own; we are the ones putting it there. So, what I am requesting from the community is that we become more conscious. Please do not throw plastic or empty cool-drink cans into the river as if it were a dustbin. People should stop throwing waste and other rubbish into the water. This is the water we drink. Every household and every village should come together and say, ‘Enough is enough.’ Let’s stop throwing waste and other rubbish into our water.”

The bridge and the surrounding infrastructure were paid for by the Angolan government, but there has been no maintenance from either party.

Hambyuka added that both countries are working on a way to put together money that would be used to construct a proper structure.