When Everyone Owns It, No One Maintains It: A Tree in Zambia and a Lesson for Liberia

The Mosi-oa-Tunya in Zambia, also called Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Anyone, anywhere, would be excited to visit the only natural wonder in Africa, especially a nature lover like me. That’s why when I was accepted to attend a training on Managing the Environmental Impact of Hydropower and Renewable Projects – Africa in Livingston, Zambia, I was thrilled.

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By Abraham L.B. Freeman, contributing writer

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During my visit to Victoria Falls, my excitement turned into a reality check. A local took me to a Baobab tree in the middle of the semi-desert plains to climb and view the serene landscape as far as my eyes could see. The Baobab tree is a powerful symbol of southern African heritage. It represents not just culture and spirituality, but also resilience and strength. It offers shade from the scorching sun and serves as a space for community and unity. Yet, this tree that embodies resilience was surrounded by ruin and neglect.

When we arrived, there was a wooden ladder and a metal signboard. The sign read: VICTORIA FALLS WORLD HERITAGE SITE – LOOK OUT TREE. NO FEES. It continued: the institution will not be held liable for any injury, death or whatsoever. You are climbing this tree at your own risk. I rushed to the ladder, eager to climb, but the steps were completely damaged. I stepped back to re-read the sign, but the only thing that stood out was “NO FEES.” Then I asked myself a profound question: does no fees mean no care? Does no card mean no ownership?

Just a few steps away, several privately owned tourist facilities were well maintained, clean and functional. But the free public facility meant for everyone—locals and visitors alike was broken.

My moment of joy became a moment of reflection. I could directly link this to my experiences back home in Liberia. During and after the civil war and the Ebola outbreak, NGOs built sanitation facilities like latrines and hand pumps in every community. These facilities are rarely maintained and often lie in ruin, while people continue to lack basic services. The issue is ownership.

Since 2013, I’ve worked mostly in rural Liberia in sanitation, environmental sustainability and community empowerment. One thing is common across these communities: the ruin of development projects. These facilities stop functioning once the project ends. No one takes responsibility for their upkeep, even though the services they provide are essential.

More recently, the same pattern is visible during political campaigns. Aspirants donate free motorbikes to individuals, groups and communities as bait for votes. These bikes often break down before the campaign ends or shortly after the election. I spoke to a bike rider who owns his bike through a “work and pay” arrangement. He explained that people don’t take care of free things because they lack personal investment. Without that, there’s no accountability.

The Baobab tree at Victoria Falls and the neglected sanitation facilities in Liberia tell the same story. When something is free but no one feels responsible for it, it falls apart. Whether it’s a ladder to a scenic view or a village latrine, things that belong to everyone often end up cared for by no one. If we want development projects and public services to last, we need to build a sense of ownership and shared responsibility. Real value isn’t just in giving people access, it’s in helping them keep what they’ve been given alive and useful.

About the author

Abraham L. B. Freeman is a CNN and Deutsche Welle featured Social Entrepreneur and SDG Champion. He is the founder of Environmental Rescue Initiative – a community-based organization that promotes environmental sustainability and community empowerment through innovation and education in underserved communities in Liberia.