05 Jul 2016

The Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama says it was the intention of his ministry to introduce plastic levy.

Minister Khama said during consultations with Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) and the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), they were advised that plastic levy collection would be complex to administer and might not serve the purpose for which it was meant for.  

He said on the basis of the advice, his ministry resolved to ban plastic carrier bags, a proposal which had been approved in principle.

 “Therefore, no plan to introduce the plastic levy, this notwithstanding, the National Strategy Office has requested for further consultations on the same which has not been conclusive up to now.  It is our hope that a worthwhile solution will emerge from the consultations, failing which my ministry will press ahead with the ban,” he said.  

The Member of Parliament for Gaborone North, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa had asked the minister if there were any plans by government to introduce plastic levy. ENDS