23 Feb 2016

Francistown City deputy mayor, Councillor Lechedzani Modenga says as issues of littering continue to be a challenge, it is imperative that parents should educate and sensitise children about the dangers of littering.

Speaking during a clean-up campaign at the Francistown Bus Rank on February 19, Mr Modenga said education and awareness was an ideal approach they could stick to.

He said it would help propel their environment to continually adapt to such challenges to accomplish the concept of sustainable environment.

“We are faced up with different environmental challenges, among them pollution, which is caused by littering and improper handling of waste, which if not mitigated present a serious threat to mankind,” he said.

Mr Modenga said as the population increases, development was inevitable and that it builds more pressure on the environment. He said if environmental pollution continues, it would negatively affect other resources such as animals, surface and underground water sources, soil, air and human beings.

Furthermore, he said natural resources play a huge role in supporting Botswana’s economy by providing food, fuel, shelter and a livelihood to thousands of people in the country and the entire world.

Mr Modenga noted that as the government continues to put in various environmental programmes, policies and plans, which were aimed at protecting the environment, it was only through implementation of such policies by all that sustainable development could be accomplished.

He further commended the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for coming up with a collaborative clean–up campaign with Skip Hire, Environmental Health Division of the City of Francistown Council and the Department of Waste Management and Pollution Control. Ends