05 Jun 2018

The Ngamiland Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project coordinator from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr Innocent Magole has encouraged the community to reduce plastic usage to prepare for the proposed ban. Speaking at the World Environment Day pre event in Maun organised by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on June 4, Mr Magole said individuals and organisations should cease using plastics bags before the ban.

The pre-event hosted to raise plastic waste awareness prior to the World Environmental day on June 5 was a collaboration between DEA, the Ministry of Basic Education and UNDP. Mr Magole said plastic bags contained chemical benzene which was harmful to the environment.

He noted that countries like Rwanda had already banned plastic bags, a move Botswana was in the process of emulating. Mr Magole however, observed that some organisations had begun introducing non-plastic shopping bags in the Ngamiland District and also praised some Safari companies for introducing metal water bottles instead of plastic ones.

He said Batswana should practice a no plastic life in preparation for the policy that discouraged plastic usage. He introduced new shopping bags made by DEA. Maun regional education office principal adult education officer, Mr Ookame Molapisi called for sustainable development and for the youth to be sensitised on protecting the environment. He said that more than 8 000 tonnes of plastic was manufactured worldwide.

Mr Molapisi said plastics were responsible for the decline in beef industry revenue since cattle consumed plastic bags harmful to them.

He acknowledged the efforts by the Ministry of Basic Education in tackling the problem of pollution by introducing environmental education and clubs. He said all this was possible through the Global Environmental

Fund and the National Environmental Fund which encouraged waste management. In his welcome remarks, Kgosi Molefhabangwe Setlhare of Sanyedi ward said community leaders should create awareness regarding plastic pollution.

Schools took part in competitions that encouraged sustainable use of the environment through the use of plastic waste and categories included essay writing. The winning parties were given prizes and invitation to attend the annual World Environmental Day. The theme for the event was; Beat Plastic Pollution in NgamiLand. Ends